Psychosocial Interventions for Older Adults With Serious Mental Illness

Course overview

The older adult population in the United States is growing rapidly. Adults with serious mental illness over age 50 have high rates of medical comorbid conditions; significantly reduced life expectancy; and are more likely to be admitted to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. As the older adult population increases, the need for behavioral health services and systems to serve the aging population will also increase. The guide presents psychosocial interventions for older adults experiencing serious mental illness, including: Assertive Community Treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training, Functional Adaptation Skills Training, Programa de Entrenamiento para el Desarrollo de Aptitudes para Latinos (Functional Adaptation Skills Training Program for Latinos), Integrated Illness Management and Recovery, and Helping Older People Experience Success. The guide provides considerations and strategies for interdisciplinary teams, peer specialists, clinicians, registered nurses, behavioral health organizations, and policy makers in understanding, selecting, and implementing evidence-based interventions that support adults with serious mental illness.