18th Annual Katz Policy Lecture: Mental Health & Aging This 18th Annual Katz Policy Lecture examines emerging and existing policies associated with mental health and aging and their implications for older adults and their loved ones. Our keynote speaker, Matthew Fullen, Ph.D., LPCC, Associate Professor at Virginia Tech, discusses recent developments in Medicare policy related to older adult mental health care, and opportunities for stakeholders in the behavioral health and aging services sectors. Read more
Best Programs for Caregiving Best Programs for Caregiving is a first-of-its kind, free online database that offers family and friend caregivers detailed information about proven dementia care programs that are available in your own community. Read more
Supporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults: Tips for Caregivers As our population ages and society continually evolves, awareness of the diverse needs of different communities of older adults has increased. LGBTQ+ rights have undergone some major changes over the past few decades, and while there have been great triumphs, there have been many challenges as well, including some that are particular to older individuals. Caregivers must be aware of these specific challenges and provide holistic, inclusive support to ensure the well-being of their LGBTQ+ older loved ones. Here are key considerations and strategies for caregivers dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ older adults. Read more
Understanding the Impact of the Older Americans Act May marks a significant celebration for the nation's older adults—Older Americans Month. This yearly observance, established in 1963, is more than just a month-long recognition; it's a celebration of the invaluable contributions and wisdom of older Americans, as well as a commitment to improving their quality of life through important services. Read more
Best Programs for Caregiving Demo Watch a demo of free online database that offers family and friend caregivers detailed information about proven dementia care programs. Read more
Finding the Dementia Support Programs You Need Caring for someone living with dementia is challenging on so many levels. For most of us, there are aspects to providing care that require skills, training and education we feel we just don’t have. There are aspects to disease education and managing behaviors that are difficult to know. And there is also the stress and strain of providing care -- which for many of us is something we do on top of working and having a family of our own. Read more
How Older Adults can Engage in Lifelong Learning Receiving a diploma doesn’t have to mean the end of education. Lifelong learning is a concept that upholds continuous and self-motivated personal and professional development throughout one's life, long after graduating from compulsory education. There’s no age that doesn’t benefit from a little extra knowledge, but older adults in particular should remember that it’s never too late to learn something they never knew before. Engaging in lifelong learning has many benefits for older adults, including enhancing cognitive function, improving quality of life and encouraging self-growth. Here are some ways you can engage in lifelong learning, and why it matters for older adults to keep expanding their minds no matter how many years pass! Read more
Free Online Directory Helps Caregivers in Underserved Populations Access Dementia Support Programs Best Programs for Caregiving, a newly-introduced online directory of evidence-based dementia caregiver support programs is making big strides in helping to expand both awareness and availability of top-rated programming in underserved rural and remote areas across the country. Difficult-to-access geographies are a real concern to the medical and social service organizations, and many recent initiatives have been devoted to addressing these underserved areas of the aging population. This is particularly true in the case of people living with dementia and their family and friend caregivers for a number of reasons. Read more
The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Older Adults and How Caregivers Can Help In many cultures, alcohol consumption is so engrained in social rituals that not drinking seems much stranger to people than frequently drinking. However, alcohol is never without its risks, and this is especially true for older people. Older adults are much more vulnerable to the adverse effects of alcohol than younger people due to age-related changes to their bodies, medication interactions and other health conditions. And though reckless drinking is an issue most people associate with younger people, older adults, especially those in the 55-64 range, are more at risk of alcohol-induced deaths than any other age category, according to data from the CDC. Read more
The Way of the Future? Healthcare Investment in Medically Tailored Meals Learn about medically tailored meals (MTMs) with Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and the Elder Justice Coalition. Join us for a virtual discussion on the Collaborative Approach to Public Goods Investment (CAPGI) model. As part of this project, 11 investors in the Cleveland, Ohio area came together to expand the MTMs program offered through Benjamin Rose’s Rose Centers for Aging Well. Dr. Len Nichols will lead the discussion on how the model can address food insecurity and serve as a tool to finance, govern and evaluate interventions in social determinants of health. Read more
