Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
15 <br /> Activities, Accomplishments and Recommendations: <br /> 1. Mental Health Planning: Meetings were held with OPC Mental Health, a UNC geriatric <br /> Psychiatrist, a representative from the N.C. Division of Aging and Adult Services, and the <br /> Department on Aging to create a plan to implement the IMPACT program at local physicians' <br /> offices. The program focuses/treats clients with depression. Based on national research in the <br /> difficulty of gathering primary care physicians' support, a decision was made to implement <br /> IMPACT in a user-friendly senior center setting. To explore this new approach, the UNC Program <br /> on Aging paid for Kate Barrett, Aging Transitions Administrator, and Jan Gerard, MSW at the <br /> Seymour Center to attend Effective Programs to Treat Depression in Older Adults: <br /> Implementation Strategies for community Agencies on May 19-20, 2008. <br /> This conference was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Healthy Aging <br /> Research Network, Preventions Research Centers Program, the University of Washington, and <br /> the Carter Center for Mental Health. A local coalition attended including: 2 social workers from <br /> OCDOA; Lea Watson, MD, geriatric psychiatrist; Rebecca Hunter, MPH, UNC Geriatric Education <br /> Center and Mary Edwards, NC Division of Aging and Adult Services. The University of <br /> Washington presenters have researched and written extensively about the IMPACT depression <br /> management program and other evidence-based programs for depression in older adults. This <br /> community coalition of OCDOA, UNC, and the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services returned <br /> from the conference with a plan to implement a geriatric depression treatment program at the <br /> Seymour Center. The Department on Aging's Transitions staff attended a follow-up IMPACT <br /> training in Seattle, funded by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and UNC. <br /> 2. Community Mental Health Education: The Aging Transitions Staff presented best practices in <br /> mental health for the NC Healthy Aging Network in September 2008, conducted a workshop for <br /> Piedmont Health Services social workers on diagnosing and treating geriatric depression and <br /> taught UNC medical students on a) recognizing geriatric depression and b) evidence based best <br /> practices for geriatric depression. <br /> 3. A Model Mental Health Clinic: The UNC Mood Memory and Mobility Screening clinic that <br /> began in 2007 is being staffed by a UNC geriatrician, physical therapist, and a pharmacist. The <br /> Department on Aging provides an occupational therapist and a social worker. If appropriate, <br /> when a patient is screened in for depression limited follow-up sessions are scheduled with a <br /> clinical social worker. <br /> Recommendation 2008-09: <br /> 1. Cognitive Impairment Support Group-To begin at the Seymour Center in January 2009 a <br /> support group for individuals who are newly diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early <br /> stage dementia. This group generally experiences significant depression and anxiety. The <br /> group's purpose will be educational, supportive, and activity based, facilitated by two second year <br /> MSW students from UNC-Chapel Hill. <br /> 2. Continue the planning to implement the IMPACT Program in the user-friendly senior center <br /> setting. <br /> 12 <br />