Decreasing depression and suicide among community-dwelling older adults: Collaboration between geriatric psychiatry and Area Agencies on Aging

The 1999 Surgeon General's Report on Mental Illness predicted that there will never be enough mental health professionals to adequately care for the mental health needs of America, implying that other health professionals would need to be trained and involved in the mental health care of their patients. The report also pointed out that the deficiencies related to the mental health needs of older adults. Georgia's residents > 75 years of age have the highest rate of suicide in the state. Funded by the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Aging, the Fuqua Center for Late-Life Depression of Emory University has partnered with the Division of Aging / Community Care services Program (CCSP) to decrease the rates of depression and suicide among Georgia's frail elderly.

The purpose of this project was to provide intense depression education to non-physician healthcare workers of high-risk seniors and to facilitate the evaluation and treatment of suicidal and depressive symptoms. The intervention provided an interactive education program and medical support for care coordinators caring for frail community dwelling elderly in a state-administered (Medicaid waiver) program throughout Georgia.

The population targeted by the project is Georgia's older adults who because of their frailty qualify for nursing home placement. These adults, however, have chosen to enroll in the CCSP, enabling them to remain in the community. Statewide, CCSP serves approximately 16,000 older adults. This intervention has been implemented in all 12 of Georgia's Area Agencies on Aging regions.