Addressing unmet needs of the elderly with depression

The Healthy Northeast Pennsylvania Initiative (HNPI), a community-based health consortium, implemented an education program to better service senior citizens in isolation and dealing with depression. HNPI partnered with the Advocacy Alliance and the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to establish training programs. Program staff developed training materials, a resource list/guide for distribution, coordinated and conducted all gatekeeper and public awareness campaign trainings. Psychologists and/or clinical social workers were used as necessary. Program researchers tracked outcomes and impact as well as the number of persons trained for both the Gatekeeper and Public Awareness Campaign Trainings. The purpose of the Gatekeeper Training was to train professionals and volunteers about recognizing signs of depression and social isolation in older adults. The training includes a component that explains the process of making a referral to AAA. Target audiences included senior high-rise staff, personal care home staff, senior citizen center staff, meals on wheels, Telespond adult day care, serving seniors, voluntary action center staff and volunteers, clergy and others such as postal workers, hairdressers, and delivery workers. The purpose of the public awareness campaign training was to inform the public about the gatekeeper training information, social isolation and how to make a referral/self-referral to AAA. Target audiences included senior citizen center members, senior clubs, church groups for older adults, and the general public. The presenters will explain the materials used in the program, next steps for advancing the research study, and the implications for public health policy.