By 2030, one in three Vermonters will be 60 or older. One-third of the state’s population.
Earlier this year, the Vermont Department of Health released its draft Age Stronger Vermont Plan as the state’s aging population reaches its peak. The draft plan lists his eight pillars for a strong aging population. self-determination, safety and protection, economic security, optimal health and wellness, social connectedness and engagement, housing, transportation and community design, support for family caregivers, and finally, a coordinated and efficient system. is. Service of. Mental health is woven into all eight of these pillars, and each pillar plays an intricate role in our ability to stay strong.
In addition to the physical effects of aging, older clients have cumulative life experiences that make their mental health needs different than younger clients.who [WHO] According to a report in October 2023, older adults are more likely to experience a range of negative consequences from the act of retiring from a lifetime of work. Loss of income, loss of purpose, age discrimination, social isolation, and disconnection are some of the consequences for older adults entering the promised “golden years” after years of work.
The result has been an alarming rise in suicide rates among the elderly.
“Of those who attempt suicide, one in four elderly people commit suicide, compared to one in 200 young people. disease and are unlikely to recover from its effects,” the World Health Organization reported in a January 9, 2024 article.
Vermont is not exempt from these numbers.
According to the Vermont Department of Health’s Monthly Suicide Report (July 2023), there were 11 senior suicide deaths per month, the average for the three-year period from 2020 to 2022.
According to the same source, in 2023 alone, there were an average of 8.3 suicides among the elderly per month.
The Clara Martin Center (CMC), which currently serves 155 clients over the age of 60, is responding to a call to action.
“We are currently evaluating our ability to expand within our agency and, if not, bring in additional staff to serve this population,” said Christy Everett, director of operations at Clara Martin. We will be looking to expand our workforce to hire new employees.” The center explained the station’s focus on programming for seniors going forward. “[And] We are supporting our current staff with enhanced training focused on this stage of life. ”
One of the ways CMC is trying to address this issue is through expansion and evaluation of home- or office-based services, case management, nursing and psychiatric capabilities, Everett said. The agency is also considering screening tools to assess social determinants of health, expanding wellness programs to cross-program benefits, and training care navigators to help enroll and explain benefits. We are also considering identifying CMC staff.
Dani Drown, Adult Services Coordinator, attended a recent CMC Holiday Basket event with clients receiving services in the Adult Outpatient Program.
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale is one of the screening tools CMC is looking to roll out this year.
“The focus of our Zero Suicide Initiative is that everyone who comes in is screened for suicide risk,” Everett said. “By doing this holistically, rather than just targeting specific people to screen for risk factors, we are more likely to identify individuals who need additional support at critical times in their lives. Masu.”
Although not specific to older adults, an initial screening to assess suicide risk is provided when someone walks through the door seeking services for the first time, she said.
According to the 2022 Vermont Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey Report, 8% of people 65 and older have little or no social or emotional support they need. In Orange County, many of the social and emotional support programs that existed before COVID-19 have been modified or delayed in reopening.
Some programs no longer exist all together.
“One of the ways we are focusing is working with local senior centers and community nurse programs to strengthen collaboration and identify older adults who need targeted support. It’s about strengthening,” Everett said.
CMC has staff trained in a variety of techniques, including those specific to grief, end of life, death and dying, and at least one staff member is trained as an end-of-life doula.
Looking ahead, CMC is beginning to lay the groundwork for other potential collaborations. The agency has begun investigating the Howard Center’s Embedded SASH Clinician Pilot Program to consider additional options on how to support this population. Discussions have been held with Gifford Medical Center about an EMT house call program in which selected agency staff will be trained as mental health first aid trainers to help community members identify the first signs that someone may need support. I am.
The need to support Vermont’s seniors has always been woven into the agency’s tapestry.
In 2018, the Clara Martin Center received the Governor’s Award for Business Excellence in Supporting Mature Workers. Work schedule flexibility and accommodations, training and skill development, employment opportunities, recruitment and retention, retirement and retirement planning are all evaluated for this award for Vermont’s older workforce.
“The population as a whole is aging, and that includes people with mental health issues,” said Kevin Buchanan, psychiatrist and medical director at the Clara Martin Center. said the doctor. “They tend to be more complex because they often have social and economic needs, and may also be more difficult to treat with drug therapy due to health issues and polypharmacy. Yes. It’s even more challenging. We need to be prepared to care for people with mental health problems as they age.”
Clara Martin Center is a community-based nonprofit organization providing acute and long-term behavioral health services since 1966. For more information, please visit www.claramartin.org.
This article is part of a series produced in collaboration with Vermont Care Partners and its members. Vermont Care Partners is a statewide network of 16 nonprofit, community-based agencies that provide developmental disabilities, mental health, and substance use services.
