The Carolina Geriatric Education Center worked closely with the NC Division of Public Health, NC Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse Services, and the UNC School of Nursing to hold four regional seminars across the state in Spring 2013 to:
- Share up-to-date information regarding older adults with mental health and substance abuse issues, the challenges, and our readiness to deal with them.
- Highlight key strategies to increase and extend capacity to serve older adults with these issues.
- Serve as a catalyst for action by bringing leaders together to discuss challenges and launch regional and/or community level planning to address older adults with mental health and substance abuse issues.
Over 180 providers and other stakeholders attended the seminars. The attendees created action plans to address mental health, substance use, and aging issues in their specific regions, and we anticipate that at least one new coalition will result from the seminars.
CGEC thanks the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, NC Mental Health, Substance Use, and Aging Coalition, and Eastern, Mountain, Charlotte, Wake Area Health Education Center, and UNC School of Nursing for their support of the seminars.