Behavioral Health Services and Older Adults: Coordinating Care Across the Lifespan E311

Course Summary

Practice Level: Intermediate

The rising number of older adults in the United States, particularly those with severe mental illness, has broad implications for public mental health systems and systems on aging. This course, based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Behavioral Health Services and Older Adults: Coordinating Care Across Systems and the Lifespan, provides social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors with the historical background and current guidance on effective service delivery to the older adult population in the United States.

The learning material outlines factors that influence mental health in this population, as well as key challenges in implementing service delivery.  A focus on effective strategies to provide comprehensive, coordinated care to older adults appears throughout. Examples of state initiatives offering innovative service models highlight key learning points.

Course Format

This course contains downloadable online lessons (PDF) and a practice test. When you’re ready, purchase the course by clicking the “Add To Cart” or “Enroll” button. This will let you take the test, complete the course evaluation and receive your certificate for CE credits.

Learning Objectives

1. Recognize factors that can influence the mental health and quality of life of older adults.
2. Explain the roles of legislation and governmental agencies in shaping behavioral health services for older adults in the United States.
3. Identify key challenges to providing behavioral health services to older adults.
4. Describe effective strategies to provide comprehensive, integrated care to older adults.

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Overview of Older Adults and SMI
• State Structure of Services for Older Adults
• Community Mental Health System Opportunities
• State Initiatives to Address the Behavioral Health Needs of Older Adults
• Conclusion

Author

SAMHSA

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA leads public health efforts that advance the behavioral health of the nation and its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on communities in America.

William A. Cook, Ph.D.

William A. Cook, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who worked for 15 years in private practice in Montana before leaving his practice to work full time as the Director of CE4Less. He earned his doctorate degree from Texas A&M University, and focused much of his psychology practice in the area of child and family counseling, as well as psychological testing.

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/08/2024–08/08/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 2 general continuing education credits.

Level Education Group, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0355.

Level Education Group, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0835.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.