P4A Hopes to Join Forces with Providers and Other Stakeholders to Increase Access to MH and SUD Services for Older Adults
Message from P4A:
The Pennsylvania Association for Area Agencies on Aging (P4A), the community leaders in serving older adults, is working hard to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services for older adults in Pennsylvania. We hope to partner with community providers, Behavioral Health Managed Care Organizations (BH-MCOs), and other essential stakeholders wherever possible to improve access to these vital services now and in the future. The U.S. population is aging. Today, more than 46 million older adults ages 65 and older live in the U.S. Between 2020 and 2030 alone, when the last of the baby boomer cohorts reach age 65, the number of older adults is projected to increase by almost 18 million. By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans is projected to be 65+ years old, and older people are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. Current systems are not prepared for the “silver tsunami” about to hit.
The primary goal of this project is to help older adults remain in their homes and communities and improve their physical, social, and emotional well-being. The consequences of untreated mental health and substance use disorders can be especially grave for older adults. The lack of these vital services affects older adults in countless ways:
- Reduces the quality of life;
- Jeopardizes independent living; and
- Increases health risks and risk of suicide.
This project will improve access by linking existing systems and improving communications between systems. This project will also provide much-needed cross-systems training about the unique needs of older adults and each system’s services as well as identify ways they can work better together. We aim to build capacity by working with Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), MH and SUD providers, counties, managed care organizations, and other related agencies by providing information, training, tools, and service delivery ideas. The plans are to utilize the unique assets each community brings and address each obstacle identified. For example, changes need to be made in the various funding structures, such as Medicare, to help break down funding barriers to access.
A special workshop, entitled “Improving Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services for OUR older adults. YOU Can Help!” will be held at the upcoming RCPA Conference Leading in 2021: Hoping, Healing, Helping. Please consider either attending or viewing the workshop at a later time. If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Lynn Cooper, Behavioral Health Policy Specialist, via email or at 717-805-8915.