As the American population continues to age, it is vital for practitioners to educate themselves on working with individuals who are also aging with psychiatric disabilities. Below is a curated list of virtual training for those working alongside individuals with serious mental health conditions over 50 years old. Looking for something specific? This content has been categorized according to Dr. Michelle Zechner’s nine dimensions of wellness: Developmental, intellectual, physical, emotional, social, occupational, spiritual, environmental, and financial.
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Training | Description | Dimensions of Wellness | hf:tax:product_and_resource_topics |
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Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders in Nursing Facilities | As a practitioner in a nursing facility, you may provide care for a resident with a co-occurring serious mental health condition and substance use disorder. This webinar describes these co-occurring disorders, explains their prevalence in nursing facilities, and educates on the three types of treatment for co-occurring disorders. Presenters also explain the five stages of change and how to provide a stage-based intervention to best support these residents. | Emotional Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Physical Wellness | emotional intellectual physical wellness-dimension |
An Overview of Bipolar Disorder for Nursing Facility Staff | This 2023 webinar provides nursing facility staff with an overview of the types of Bipolar Disorder, signs and symptoms of mania and depression, and both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for individuals with Bipolar Disorder. Presenters educate nursing facility operators on how to best prepare interdisciplinary teams to support individuals with Bipolar Disorder. | Emotional Wellness, Intellectual Wellness | emotional intellectual wellness-dimension |
An Overview of Schizophrenia and Psychosis | The goal of this webinar is to provide practitioners with an understanding of how Schizophrenia and Psychosis may present in a nursing home setting. Late-in-life onset, signs and symptoms, typically prescribed medications, non-pharmacological interventions, and other available supports are shared for members of an interdisciplinary team. | Emotional Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Social Wellness | emotional intellectual social wellness-dimension |
Gentler Journeys: Easing Transitions of Care for Patients with Serious Mental Illness | Transitions of care between acute care, nursing homes, and community settings can be difficult. This webinar shares challenges and supports for making discharges and these transitions as smooth as possible for older adults with serious mental health conditions. Communication between all members of the interprofessional team is vital for facilitating these transitions, and presenters discuss available tools and supports. | Environmental Wellness | environmental wellness-dimension |
Understanding Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Brief Overview | This training provides practitioners in nursing home settings an understanding of PTSD, it’s symptoms, triggers, and outlooks. Specifically, it provides a guide on how to best support nursing home residents with PTSD through environmental accommodations, minimizing triggers, and providing support. | Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Social Wellness | emotional environmental intellectual social wellness-dimension |
Mental Health 101, Suicide Prevention & De-escalation | This session provides an overview of serious mental health conditions that you may see in a nursing home setting. The presenters include warning signs to look for in residents that may indicate suicidal ideation, as well as strategies for suicide prevention. De-escalation techniques that are important for providers in nursing homes working with residents with psychiatric disabilities are also provided. | Emotional Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness | emotional physical social wellness-dimension |
Serious Mental Illness (SMI) in Nursing Facilities: Using a 5-Step Approach to Care | A large number of nursing home residents experience mental health challenges, and this training gives an introduction to psychiatric disabilities. Providing an overview of a five-step model of care, this training offers staff in nursing facilities with an outline on how to support residents with serious mental health conditions. | Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness | emotional environmental physical social wellness-dimension |
Building Capacity to Serve Older Adults with Mental Health Conditions | This webinar provides education for Information and Referral/Assistance professionals working with older adults with serious mental health conditions. When assisting through Eldercare Locator, it is important to understand screening for psychiatric diagnoses and appropriate care referrals for older adults experiencing a crisis. | Emotional Wellness, Physical Wellness | emotional physical wellness-dimension |
Older Adults and Technology | Following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital to ensure that providers of older adults with serious mental health conditions are educated on trauma-informed digital communication and technologies that are available to support this population in their recovery process. This two-hour webinar discusses older adults’ attitudes and preferences toward technologies, barriers to technology use in aging services, emerging technologies, and information on training individuals to integrate technology into their recovery process. The presentation develops skills through role-play activities, providing resources, and education on theoretical models for providers to take with them into their interactions with older adults with psychiatric disabilities. | Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Social Wellness | emotional environmental social wellness-dimension |
Older Adult Crisis Management During COVID-19 | Being able to detect signs of crisis in older adults with behavioral health conditions is vital for providers for individuals in this population, especially with a shift towards telehealth following the COVID-19 pandemic. This two-hour webinar provides education on a crisis intervention model for older adults experiencing a serious mental health condition, as well as tips to provide support and recognize challenges for this group in a digital healthcare environment. | Developmental Wellness, Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Social Wellness | developmental emotional environmental social wellness-dimension |
Behavioral Health Coaching: An Innovative Program Addressing Housing and Mental Health | This webinar shares the story of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Behavioral Health Coaching Service which supports older adults at the intersection of experiencing mental health conditions and eviction risk. If you work in the field of case management for individuals within this demographic, this webinar provides valuable information on affordable housing and the behavioral health coaching model. | Developmental Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Financial Wellness | developmental environmental financial wellness-dimension |
The Process of Working with Older Adults in Psychotherapy | Elderspeak, attitudes about aging and age bias, social and historical context, cohort effects, and cognitive slowing are important factors for individuals providing psychotherapy for older adults to be aware of. This fifty-minute, free webinar provides education for psychotherapists and other mental health professionals to ensure they are providing older adults they work with high-quality care. | Developmental Wellness, Emotional Wellness, Financial Wellness, Social Wellness | developmental emotional financial social wellness-dimension |
A Phenotype for Resilience Against Accelerated Aging in People with Serious Mental Illness | Addressing the increased likelihood of co-morbid condition development and premature mortality, presenters educate providers on the role of resilience and other factors in accelerated aging for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Reviewing three studies, the presenters discuss macro (systems), mezzo (services), and micro (individual) risk and protective factors for accelerated aging of older adults with serious mental health conditions. The importance of co-creating integrated care and examples of program interventions are shared to educate providers on how they may engage this population. The webinar is concluded by sharing information on how to evaluate the system that you work in, and how you may serve as an agent of change. | Developmental Wellness, Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness | developmental emotional environmental physical social wellness-dimension |
Geriatric Mental Health in the Black Community | This webinar from the Black Psychiatrists of American Health Equity Webinar Series discusses the roles of social isolation, emotional support, and discrimination among the population of older Black adults with serious mental health conditions . Identifying risk factors, discussing medication dosage and management, treating co-morbid conditions, addressing dementia, and potential lifestyle change suggestions are all topics of conversation in this webinar. | Developmental Wellness, Emotional Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness | developmental emotional intellectual physical social wellness-dimension |
Integrated Care Needs of Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness & Implications for Effective Care Transitions | This 2019 presentation on improving services for older adults targets administrators, medical professionals, mental health care providers, and individuals working in research. Barriers to transition in or out of institutional settings are discussed while highlighting the roles of providers in this process. | Environmental Wellness, Financial Wellness | environmental financial wellness-dimension |
Encouraging Healthy Aging with Serious Mental Health Conditions | Michelle Zechner provides an overview of healthy aging as it pertains to older adults with serious mental health conditions, and discusses how providers can maintain and improve quality of life for this population. The presentation educates providers on how to support healthy aging through system approaches, engaging in best practices, and specific practitioner strategies that can be implemented on an individual level. | Developmental Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness | developmental physical social wellness-dimension |
Supporting Recovery for People Aging with Serious Mental Health Conditions Session 2: Best Practices in Psychiatric Rehabilitation for People Aging with Serious Mental Health Conditions – Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network | Following the introduction segment, this second installment focuses on evidence based practice and important components of interventions for older adults with serious psychiatric disabilities. Dr. Michelle Zechner discusses the concept of healthy aging, and practices for empowering and developing hope for this population such as shared decision making. She also highlights self-management, integrated care, caregiver support, and peer program resources that practitioners can share with older adults with serious psychiatric disabilities and those caring for them. | Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness | emotional environmental intellectual physical social wellness-dimension |
Supporting Recovery for People Aging with Serious Mental Health Conditions Session 1: Psychiatric Rehabilitation Philosophy and Goals to Promote Recovery for Older Adults – Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network | This 1.5 hour webinar installment introduces goals, values, and guiding principles for practitioners working with older adults with serious psychiatric disabilities. An emphasis is placed on the idea of recovery, utilizing case studies to investigate challenges, supports, and tools for living beyond symptoms. | Environmental Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Occupational Wellness, Physical Wellness | environmental intellectual occupational physical wellness-dimension |
Supporting Older Adults with Co-Occurring Health Conditions – SAMHSA | Maddy Reinert, the Senior Director of Population Health with Mental Health America discusses challenges with initiation of mental health care for older adults and ways to move towards a better system. Maureen Nash, the Medical Director of Providence ElderPlace PACE Oregon shares about the role of PACE programs for older adults with psychiatric disabilities. | Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Physical Wellness | emotional environmental physical wellness-dimension |
Group Reminiscence for Older Adults with SMI by Elder Peers – SAMHSA | This webinar discusses group reminiscence for older adults with psychiatric disabilities. Cynthia Zubritsky, PhD, and Robert Walker discuss what reminiscence therapy consists of, intervention tools, and appropriate environmental contexts. The webinar further discusses the role of Certified Older Adult Peer Specialists (COAPS) and their role in this intervention as peer supports. | Emotional Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Social Wellness | emotional intellectual social wellness-dimension |
TA Coalition Webinar: Preparing for the Mental Health Needs of Older Adults – National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors | In this webinar Brent Forester and Nicole Cadovius advise on mental health concerns of older adults and their link to physical health symptoms, premature death, and higher health care costs. Prevalence and potential interventions are discussed for people diagnosed with conditions including schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease. | Financial Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Physical Wellness | financial intellectual physical wellness-dimension |
Strategies and Considerations for Representing Older Adults with Social Security Administration Benefits – SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center | The goal of this presentation is to increase understanding of experiences of unhoused older adults with disabilities for programs and practitioners. With a focus on Social Security Administration benefits, these slides detail how to support older adults in these applications. Further, slides instruct stakeholders on characteristics and service needs of the population, disability and aging networks, and home and community based services. | Environmental Wellness, Financial Wellness, Occupational Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness | environmental financial occupational physical social wellness-dimension |
Supporting Recovery for People Aging with Serious Mental Health Conditions Session 3: Approaches – Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network | The final webinar in the Supporting Recovery for People Aging with Serious Mental Health Conditions series highlight strengths and challenges for this population. Further, it identifies strategies for engagement, motivation, and resource development among older adults with serious psychiatric disabilities. | Developmental Wellness, Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Financial Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Occupational Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness, Spiritual Wellness | developmental emotional environmental financial intellectual occupational physical social spiritual wellness-dimension |
Older Adults and Serious Mental Illness, Part 2 – Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network | The second installment of this webinar series introduces evidence based practices for working with older adults with serious psychiatric disabilities. This webinar emphasizes program development and using a wellness frame of reference. The series wraps up with a discussion of important considerations and requirements of practitioners working with adults with serious psychiatric conditions. | Intellectual Wellness, Occupational Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness, Spiritual Wellness | intellectual occupational physical social spiritual wellness-dimension |
Older Adults and Serious Mental Illness, Part 1 – Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network | The first installment of this webinar series provides a general overview of considerations for practitioners working with older adults with serious psychiatric disabilities. Dr. Michelle Zechner highlights diagnoses, unique strengths and challenges, demographic trends, health comorbidities, and common psychiatric symptoms. | Intellectual Wellness, Occupational Wellness, Physical Wellness | intellectual occupational physical wellness-dimension |
Diversity Among Persons Living with SMI: A Focus on Older Adults – SMI Adviser – A Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness | This one hour webinar provides continuing education credits for physicians, psychologists, nurses, and social workers while providing all practitioners working with older adults with serious psychiatric disabilities an overview of factors associated with aging in the context of serious psychiatric disabilities. The webinar covers shifts in demographics of older adults living with psychiatric disabilities, diversity among this population, challenges associated with aging as a part of this population, and strategies for providing care. The webinar is concluded by a question and answer session, and the site provides an ongoing interdisciplinary discussion board providing opportunity for follow up engagement. | Emotional Wellness, Financial Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Occupational Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness | emotional financial intellectual occupational physical social wellness-dimension |
Psychosocial Evidence-Based Practice for Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness: Introduction – E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging | This free one hour webinar provides an overview of the Psychosocial Interventions for Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness evidence based resource guide supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Steve Bartels highlights the evidence based practices, and more specifically how to select and implement them, for practitioners working with the growing population of older adults with serious psychiatric disabilities. | Emotional Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness | emotional intellectual physical social wellness-dimension |
Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST) For Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness – E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging | Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST) is an evidence based tool practitioners working with older adults with schizophrenia may utilize to support overall functioning. This one hour free webinar discusses the cognitive skills, social skills, and problem solving skills central to this training. | Intellectual Wellness, Occupational Wellness, Social Wellness | intellectual occupational social wellness-dimension |
Improving Social Functioning and Health Self-Management in Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness – E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging | When working with older adults it is important for practitioners to distinguish the sometimes overlapping symptomatic expressions of dementia and serious psychiatric disabilities. This hour and a half webinar highlights diagnoses, symptoms, risk factors, and care practices for practitioners working with older adults who may have a serious psychiatric disability, dementia, or both. | Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Physical Wellness, Social Wellness | emotional environmental physical social wellness-dimension |
Clinical Confounds and Conflations: Serious Mental Illness, Dementia, or Both – E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging | When working with older adults it is important for practitioners to distinguish the sometimes overlapping symptomatic expressions of dementia and serious psychiatric disabilities. This hour and a half webinar highlights diagnoses, symptoms, risk factors, and care practices for practitioners working with older adults who may have a serious psychiatric disability, dementia, or both. | Emotional Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Intellectual Wellness | emotional environmental intellectual wellness-dimension |
Valued Social Roles in Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness – E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging | This 1.5 hour webinar discusses the way that social roles develop as individuals age and life circumstances change. When working with older adults living with serious psychiatric disabilities it is important to understand how role loss and gain may impact mental health and quality of life, and how practitioners may support these individuals to reach desired social roles. | Social Wellness | social wellness-dimension |
Notice: This resource is funded under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90RTHF0007). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The statements made during the event do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.