MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF THE MIDSOUTH's
Annual Older Adult Conference 2024
SILVER LININGS
Illuminating Mental Wellness in Later Life
Through Education and Resources
Through Education and Resources
Live Webinar
Tuesday | May 21st
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM CT
6 FREE CEs*
Overview & Objectives
Join us for our annual conference exploring the multifaceted aspects of mental and behavioral health among older adults. We will delve into crucial and current topics that affect this unique population and the caregivers that serve them. This conference brings together experts in the field to shed light on various aspects of mental health, including depression, delirium, dementia, and serious mental illness among older adults. Additionally, we will explore peer support interventions, workforce issues, healthcare and insurance options, grandfamilies and access to resources for overall health
and wellness in older adults.
Depression, Delirium, or Dementia: If there is a difference, how can I tell?
Presentation Objectives:
1. Accurately describe depression, delirium, and dementia.
2. Compare the behavioral differences between diagnoses
3. Understand the hazards of misdiagnosing
1. Accurately describe depression, delirium, and dementia.
2. Compare the behavioral differences between diagnoses
3. Understand the hazards of misdiagnosing
LYNN WOOD, CERTIFIED DEMENTIA SPECIALIST
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF THE MIDSOUTH
Lynn has spent the last 20 years working with older adults and their families experiencing life after an Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnosis. While managing the office at a Nursing Home and Rehab center, she found herself working with families trying to make long-term decisions based on emotionally charged, urgent needs and found so much value in this work. She continued this path at two Assisted Living communities that offered Memory Care services and this is when Lynn began to focus on assisting those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and their caregivers. The effects of being a caregiver and it’s impact on the family unit as a whole is a passion for Lynn. In October 2018, she joined Mental Health America of the MidSouth as the Caregiver Support Coordinator. She is a certified Dementia Specialist and member of the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Lynn’s work takes her to 13 counties in the Greater Nashville area where she shares her knowledge through conference and community presentations. Although Lynn loves presenting to the community, her number one focus and passion is meeting one-on-one with families and Caring for the Caregiver. Lynn is the board chair for Williamson County geriatric council and is a voting member of the Robertson County health council. In addition to working with Aging Adults Lynn is also a Certified Mental Health First Aide Trainer. The effects that being a caregiver have on the whole family unit is a passion for Lynn. In October 2018, she joined the Mental Health America of the MidSouth team as its Caregiver Support Coordinator. She is a certified Dementia Specialist and member of the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Lynn’s work takes her to 13 counties in the Greater Nashville area where she shares her knowledge through conference and community presentations. Meeting one-on-one with families and Caring for the Caregiver, however, her number one focus.
Helping Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness Age in Place: Specific Interventions
Presentation Objectives:
1. Describe three evidenced-based self-management strategies for Older Adults
2. Define the qualities of the Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist workforce.
3. Identify 2 ways of potentially financing Certified Older Adult Peer Specialists
1. Describe three evidenced-based self-management strategies for Older Adults
2. Define the qualities of the Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist workforce.
3. Identify 2 ways of potentially financing Certified Older Adult Peer Specialists
ROBERT WALKER, MS
OFFICE OF RECOVERY AND EMPOWERMENT,
MA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
As an older adult with a lived experience and lived expertise of a serious mental illness Robert Walker has worked with scientists across the country to advance their research on supporting older adults with SMI, through offering his perspective informed by his experience of living with a serious mental illness. Through this process, Rob has developed a series of products to advance the behavioral health of older adults with SMI, through Certified Older Adult Peer Support. During the COVID crisis, Rob co-developed SOAR, Serving Older Adults Remotely, which incorporated evidence-based practices the older adult workforce could use remotely, to support individuals with SMI and their caregivers. Rob has collaborated with researchers on several projects investigating using digital technologies to support older adult behavioral health, as well as research on older adult peer specialists. Further he has worked with the workforce in Massachusetts for over 25 years with the Department of Mental Health, Co-Chairing the Older Adult Behavioral Health Collaborative, a subcommittee of the State Mental Health Planning Council, as well as working with the State Medicaid Authority to ensure older adult peer support is a service included in the Frail Elder Waiver.
Building the Care We Need
Presentation Objectives:
1. Understand the challenges facing today’s direct care workforce.
2. Review the objectives of Tennessee’s Healthcare Taskforce.
3. Learn strategies to build the care we all value
1. Understand the challenges facing today’s direct care workforce.
2. Review the objectives of Tennessee’s Healthcare Taskforce.
3. Learn strategies to build the care we all value
SHELLEY V. HALE
COMMISSION ON AGING & DISABILITY
Shelley is the Director of Operations and Programs Administrator for the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability. In this role, she is responsible for the statewide Options for Community Living Program, the Older American’s Act program, the National Family Caregiver Support Program and the Nutrition Program. Prior to working for the State, Ms. Hale was the Executive Director of the Southwest Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability, where she spent twenty years in service to older adults and persons with disabilities. As the Executive Director, Ms. Hale wrote and received a 3.6 million dollar grant to establish senior volunteer transportation in 30 locations across the State. She specializes in providing technical assistance to providers, policy and program development, and presenting on issues facing older adults at conferences and other professional development events. Ms. Hale attended Liberty University where she majored in history and political science. She resides in Jackson TN with her husband and two sons.
Understanding Health Insurance Options in Tennessee
Presentation Objectives:
1. Gain a better understanding regarding healthcare options and eligibility requirements for TennCare Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (Marketplace) Insurance for uninsured Tennesseans not yet Medicare eligible as well as understanding eligibility and benefits under the Medicare Savings Programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries
1. Gain a better understanding regarding healthcare options and eligibility requirements for TennCare Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (Marketplace) Insurance for uninsured Tennesseans not yet Medicare eligible as well as understanding eligibility and benefits under the Medicare Savings Programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries
2. Learn how to find assistance through the Get Covered Tennessee program - a program of Family & Children’s Service that provides free, unbiased health insurance enrollment assistance and education on how to maximize their health insurance coverage and how to avoid fraudulent assistance
ADIA WHITFIELD
FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICE
GET COVERED TENNESSEE
Aida is the Director of the Get Covered Tennessee – Affordable Care Act program with Family & Children’s Service. Before becoming the Director of the Get Covered Tennessee program in 2019, Aida was a certified health insurance Navigator and was responsible for helping Tennesseans navigate their health insurance coverage options through the Marketplace and the state Medicaid programs. Specializing in the Affordable Care Act provisions, Aida uses that experience to help uninsured and underinsured individuals find comprehensive and affordable coverage through the health insurance Marketplace.
As an Ethiopian-born American, Aida Whitfield’s personal and educational background as a has influenced her commitment to serving vulnerable and underserved populations in Tennessee. Aida earned a bachelor’s degree from David Lipscomb University and holds a master’s degree from Cumberland University.
Supporting Kin/Grandfamilies Impacted by Parental Substance Use
Presentation Objectives:
1. Understand the use of the terms kinship and grandfamilies, including the prevalence of grandfamilies in the community
2. Determine the difference between formal and informal kinship caregivers (or families involved/not involved in the child welfare system)
3. Identify the parental causal factors that kinship/grandfamilies, including substance use 4. Understand the unique strengths and needs of kinship/grandfamilies
1. Understand the use of the terms kinship and grandfamilies, including the prevalence of grandfamilies in the community
2. Determine the difference between formal and informal kinship caregivers (or families involved/not involved in the child welfare system)
3. Identify the parental causal factors that kinship/grandfamilies, including substance use 4. Understand the unique strengths and needs of kinship/grandfamilies
5. Identify the public systems that intersect with kinship/grandfamilies
KYLEE CRAGGETT, LMSW
GENERATIONS UNITED
Kylee is a Technical Assistance Specialist for the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center. In this role, Kylee is responsible for supporting technical assistance requests, connecting system leaders to information and resources, and collaborating with subject matter experts. She has over nine years of experience in Child Welfare, including six years assisting with piloting a kinship care program in Texas. As Generations United’s GRAND Voices Support Coordinator, Robyn provides coordination and support to the organization’s national network of grandfamily caregivers as they inform Generation United’s work and the grandfamilies field to improve policy and practice. Prior to joining Generations United, Robyn worked for nearly 15 years in Indian Child Welfare, primarily in tribal foster care leadership. Additionally, Robyn has been a GRAND Voice for the state of Oklahoma for several years and is a caregiver for her grandchild and mother. She lives in Oklahoma on the Mvskoke reservation and holds tribal citizenship with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
Supporting Kin/Grandfamilies Impacted by Parental Substance Us
ROBYN WIND
GENERATIONS UNITED
As Generations United’s GRAND Voices Support Coordinator, Robyn provides coordination and support to the organization’s national network of grandfamily caregivers as they inform Generation United’s work and the grandfamilies field to improve policy and practice. Prior to joining Generations United, Robyn worked for nearly 15 years in Indian Child Welfare, primarily in tribal foster care leadership. Additionally, Robyn has been a GRAND Voice for the state of Oklahoma for several years and is a caregiver for her grandchild and mother. She lives in Oklahoma on the Mvskoke reservation and holds tribal citizenship with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
Supporting Kin/Grandfamilies Impacted by Parental Substance Use
KRIS MAGSTADT
GENERATIONS UNITED
Kris Magstadt and her husband Kevin adopted their grandchildren Kaiden and Michaela on May 10, 2022. As the North Dakota representative for Generations United’s GRAND Voices initiative, Kris is a passionate advocate for grandfamilies. She has spoken about her experience on television, with various media outlets and her family’s story was recently highlighted in Generations United’s annual State of Grandfamilies Report.