Illinois Department of Human Services - Office of Mental Health in cooperation with the Aging Network. Introduction Mental health services are not always delivered in a manner that older adults can use easily. This has long been the concern of agencies which work with older adults. It is a problem which now is especially well known to Elder Abuse service provider agencies within the state of Illinois; these agencies regularly find situations that are prime for mental health interventions of various types for both elders and their families. Unfortunately, the range of mental health services which are needed, delivered in the ways that older adults need them, are by no means universally available throughout the state. Background to the Demonstration Project In the fall of 1999, a concerned group of aging and mental health agencies met to discuss the specific issues of mental health services to older adults. The Network Manager of the Southern Illinois Comprehensive Community Services Network invited several Mental Health Centers to send representation. From the aging network we had representation from southern and southeastern Illinois. This group discussed what was right about mental health services to older adults, reviewed some of the problems that exist, and then brainstormed about what actions might be taken to address these concerns. We shaped a modest, yet meaningful demonstration project which limited the project in scope, area covered, and time, in order to enable us to keep track of the project, collect data, and come to some conclusions at the end of the project. Outline of the Demonstration Project The demonstration project is based on aging and mental health agency “one on one” partnerships. Participating mental health agencies would perform assessment services in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and would perform those services in the client’s home, if necessary. We used a team approach to accomplish this; in most cases a staff member from the aging agency accompanied the mental health staff member. After the initial assessment both agencies were asked to collaborate together on client needs and a plan for that client. Specific results from this process were expected: a client diagnosis, care plan, and documentation of specific client outcomes. In addition to the direct benefits to clients which we hope to gain from this process, we are also looking at our “systems” issues. We are asking each agency involved in a case to tell us, with each case, what worked well and give suggestions for improvement. We reviewed the progress of this project, what went well, and what the barriers exist to providing services. Expected Outcomes and Goals
Conclusions None of the agencies involved in our planning sessions were interested in talk for talk’s sake, or in meetings with no conclusions and no actions or project in result. Thus, we chose to meet minimally, design a project that was realistic in scope, and to proceed in the future based upon the results of this cooperative venture. The truth is that there has been much discussion for many years on the various problems of both the mental health and aging agencies. The time for some direct action, with direct client benefit has come. That is what our area has chosen to do. The demonstration successfully showed that cooperating agencies from mental health and aging could provide meaningful intervention for older people in their own homes. It became evident that a larger pilot was needed to expand the demonstration into more counties over a larger span of time. A grant application was submitted to the Illinois Department of Human Services for their consideration. Cooperating Agencies Many agencies have had a part in this “pioneering” demonstration. Below is a list of the cooperating agencies.
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