Aging in Place: Mental Health

Roughly one-sixth of Forest Hills residents were 65 or older during the 2010 Census. They and their families may someday benefit from a new, nearby training program for mental health professionals.

by Elaine C. Melmed

Responding to the crucial and ever expanding need for more and better trained mental health professionals to work with the burgeoning aging populations in the United States, The Washington School of Psychiatry (WSP) in collaboration with Iona Senior Services, established a new training program, “Psychotherapy with Older Adults and The Study of Aging.”

The concerns that have led to the establishment of this training program are:

More people living longer than ever before and it is estimated that the numbers will continue to grow for the next 30 to 40 years.

Most older people adjust successfully to aging, but some – especially those subjected to poverty, isolation, physical illness and multiple stresses, are highly vulnerable to mental illness.

Older people face numerous changes and losses – physical, emotional, economic and social – an accumulation of stressful events to which constant adaptation is required.

The most common mental disorder among older people is depression, but often dementia, delirium and cognitive dysfunctions are all confused, misdiagnosed and therefore, not appropriately treated.

The aging generally are not abandoned by their families; in fact, families provide about 80% of older peoples’ needs.

Both aging and their families may suffer stress and experience guilt when caregiving roles are reversed. However, some but not enough quality help is available.

Since 1936, The Washington School of Psychiatry, located at 5028 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, has established a long and outstanding record of offering interdisciplinary training and research programs.

This new training program is directed by Tybe Diamond (ibtybe@aol.com, 202-966-1381 for more information). She is encouraging potential mental health professionals interested in expanding or learning new skills in working with the aging population to apply to the training program scheduled to begin this September.

The role of Iona Senior Services in this program will be to provide a liaison to serve on the steering committee and serve as a faculty member of the program, and to host special events scheduled during the academic year (several of which will be opened to the public) that will offer WSP students the opportunity to experience such therapeutic approaches as art therapy, dance/movement therapy, journaling and psychodrama.

This collaboration will be enormously important in shaping the program and bringing resources to the WSP students and the community. To find out more about this collaboration, William Amt at Iona can be contacted at 202-895-9424 and bamt@iona.org.

Over the next year, the WSP and Iona House will inform the Forest Hills Connection of the many special events that it is planning for its students and for the general public. They anticipate that these films, lectures, and demonstrations, will be of great interest to the Forest Hills community.