Our Purpose

Mental health issues affect seniors differently than people in other age groups. Loss, physical health concerns, and economic and social changes can act individually or in combination to affect an older person's mental health.

Up to 25 percent of people over the age of 60 experience some kind of mental illness, particularly depression. And this number increases for people in nursing and personal care homes. Yet, despite the magnitude of the problem, seniors with mental illness often go unrecognized, undiagnosed, and untreated.

There are several reasons why.

• In general, quality mental health services for seniors are either not easy to use or may not be available at all.
• Many of the services that are available are not appropriate for seniors.
• Many primary care physicians are not trained about the kinds of health care issues seniors face.
• There is a social stigma around mental illness, so many people feel uncomfortable seeking out the health care that is being offered.
• The process is complicated, requiring seniors to deal with health care providers, Medicaid, Medicare, the aging system, and the mental health system.
• There are few persistent and consistent voices championing the needs and rights of the elderly person with mental health care needs - so the system doesn't improve.

The Mental Health and Aging Advocacy Project is seeking to change this situation. Under the direction of Tom Volkert, we work through:

• Education
• Training
• Information and referral
• Collaboration with other agencies and advocacy groups
• Building a constituency of informed seniors, family members, and caregivers, such as DVMHAAC
• Influencing policy through widespread advocacy efforts