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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Nancy Lynn, MSPH, Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, 813-974-7204, nlynn@fmhi.usf.edu, Lawrence Schonfeld, PhD, Department of Aging and Mental Health, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, Hannah Hackworth, LCSW, Urban Jacksonville, Inc., 4250 Lakeside Drive, Suite 116, Jacksonville, FL 32210, and Roy Etheridge, MA, Substance Abuse Program Office, Florida Department of Children and Families, 1317 Winewood Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399.

Older adults represent a large and growing segment of the nation's population. While most community-based elders function well, there is increasing concern over those who experience untreated depression, alcohol abuse, and prescription medication misuse. Despite these concerns, few elders utilize behavioral health services (CSAT, 1998, 2005; Cole, 2002). Providers of aging services have frequent contact with elders, typically in the elders' homes. It has been assumed that many of these service recipients are “at-risk” for such disorders, but often go undetected due to lack of formal screening by the elder services system. The present exploratory study was conducted in Florida to determine the prevalence of these disorders as a prerequisite for developing a collaborative relationship with the state's behavioral health services system. Case managers employed by the lead agency for aging services in a large county screened 329 community-dwelling service recipients age 60 and over, during a three-month period. The screening tool developed by the investigators, addressed problems related to depression, prescription and over-the-counter medication misuse, suicide risk, alcohol abuse, and illicit drug use. Results indicated that 7% screened positive for alcohol problems, depression was evident in 42%, and 14% had contemplated suicide. Differences among the various types of services (e.g., Community Care for the Elderly, Nutrition programs) will be discussed. These data demonstrate the need to identify alternate casefinding pathways to successfully identify older adults who would benefit from, but who otherwise would not been identified as needing, behavioral health services.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, the participant will be able to

• Understand current barriers to identifying older adults with behavioral health needs.
• Describe age-appropriate screening methodology to identify such problems.
• Identify service options for older adults with behavioral health problems

Awards: Retirement Research Foundation Doctoral Student Award - Honorable Mention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 69.0 kb)