Making Sense of S.I.L.V.E.R. Research

Rationale for and Design of an Exercise Program to Improve Physical Function in Older Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions

Making Sense of S.I.L.V.E.R.* Research is a webinar series, designed for everyone! It presents a recent, relevant research study in clear, understandable language, with time for you to ask questions. *Supporting Individuals to Live as Vibrant Elders in Recovery Presentation: Rationale for and Design of an Exercise Program to Improve Physical Function in Older Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions This presentation will discuss physical function in older adults with serious mental health conditions as well as the rationale for and preliminary design of an exercise program for this population. Dr. Julia Browne is the Research Director of the Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis (WRAP) Program at Boston Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. Her research program, which is primarily focused on developing and evaluating health-promoting interventions (e.g., exercise) for young, middle-aged and older adults with serious mental health conditions, has been supported by institutional and federal grants and disseminated in more than 70 peer-reviewed publications. In addition to her research, she is a licensed psychologist who provides individual and family treatment to individuals with serious mental health conditions and supervises psychology trainees.

People Living with Serious Mental Health Conditions in Nursing Homes: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Federal Preadmission Screening Program (PASRR), with Dr. Taylor Bucy

Making Sense of S.I.L.V.E.R.* Research is a webinar series, designed for everyone! It presents a recent, relevant research study in clear, understandable language, with time for you to ask questions. *Supporting Individuals to Live as Vibrant Elders in Recovery Presentation: "People Living with Serious Mental Health Conditions in Nursing Homes: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Federal Preadmission Screening Program (PASRR)" The federal Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) program was enacted in the 1980s amid concerns surrounding the quality of nursing home (NH) care. This program is meant to serve as a tool to assist with level of care determinations for nursing home applicants with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) and was intended to limit the growth in the number of nursing home residents with SMHC. Despite this policy effort, the prevalence of SMHC in nursing homes has continued to increase, and little is known about the mechanisms behind the limitations of the PASRR program. This presentation shares results of 20 semi-structured interviews conducted with state and national stakeholders to identify factors affecting PASRR program administration and nursing home care for residents with SMHC. Dr. Taylor Bucy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Her research critically examines the role of long-term and post-acute care services within the broader healthcare delivery system and seeks to identify areas for meaningful organizational improvement in the structures and processes that facilitate the delivery of high-quality, high-value care to medically and socially complex older adults. Dr. Bucy earned her PhD in health services research, policy & administration from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Episode 4_“Enhancing Behavioral Health Competencies for Senior Center Staff Through Workforce Development and Training” with Bronwyn Keefe MSW, MPH, PhD

“Enhancing Behavioral Health Competencies for Senior Center Staff Through Workforce Development and Training” with Bronwyn Keefe MSW, MPH, PhDMaking Sense of S.I.L.V.E.R.* Research is a webinar series, designed for everyone! It presents a recent, relevant research study in clear, understandable language, with time for you to ask questions. “Enhancing Behavioral Health Competencies for Senior Center Staff Through Workforce Development and Training” with Bronwyn Keefe PhD, MSW, MPH This webinar describes an online certificate program in Behavioral Health and Aging offered by the Center for Aging and Disability Education and Research at Boston University School of Social Work in collaboration with the National Council on Aging to increase senior center staff knowledge and skills. A total of 228 staff at Senior Centers in Illinois, Florida, and Wisconsin completed the online certificate program. This presentation will cover: 1. The extent to which training participants mastered the competencies needed for effective practice 2. Knowledge and skills gained from the training program 3. Senior Centers’ capacity to identify and refer older adults to mental health services 4. Organizational changes related to behavioral health programming with older adults. Bronwyn Keefe, PhD, MSW, MPH is Boston University School of Social Work’s (BUSSW) Assistant Dean of Workforce and Professional Development, Research Associate Professor, and Director of BUSSW’s Center for Aging and Disability Education and Research (CADER). Keefe has been funded on many behavioral health projects, focusing on building the capacity of providers and communities in understanding the importance of mental health, substance use, and developing age-friendly initiatives to improve the lives of older adults.*Supporting Individuals to Live as Vibrant Elders in Recovery

Can the Science of Wellbeing Enhance Aging for Older Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions? w/ Lydia Ogden

There is a growing body of research into the science of wellbeing, with well-supported theories and related interventions. Nonetheless, older adults with serious mental health conditions continue to face decreased rates of wellbeing, increased feelings of isolation and loneliness, and lower life satisfaction overall. Can the good news from the world of wellbeing change those negative outcomes? This presentation describes the development and delivery of a wellbeing course, designed with certified older adult peer specialists, and delivered to older adults in a psychosocial clubhouse. Findings around acceptability and feasibility in the clubhouse setting, challenges for ongoing research, and the wellbeing-enhancing context of a clubhouse, will be discussed. Lydia P. Ogden, PhD, MSW, LICSW is an Associate Professor at Salem State University School of Social Work and a Research Affiliate at Simmons University School of Social Work. Her research focuses on understanding the lives and potential of older adults living with serious mental health conditions. To that end, she has collected and analyzed life history narratives from this population, using findings to amplify their voices within scholarly literature and make recommendations for social work practice and policy grounded in lived experiences.

Episode 2_"Old Before Their Time", with Michelle R. Zechner PhD.

People living with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) are more likely to have long-term health issues at a younger age. While much is known about the health risks in this population, we don't understand as much about how aging affects everyday activities like walking up steps or bending over. This webinar will present results of a recent study which found that middle-aged adults with SMHC had physical functioning similar to that of much older people. Declining physical abilities can affect everyday life skills, independence, housing, work options, and personal goals. This presentation will discuss findings and over practical recommendations for interventions and policies. Michelle R. Zechner, PhD, LSW, CPRP is an Associate Professor at Rutgers School of Health Professions in the Dept. of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions. Her research focuses on multi-dimensional wellness interventions and inter-professional initiatives to improve health outcomes for people with mental health conditions. She develops multi-platform educational content for various workforce development initiatives and is passionate about mental health recovery and aging well for all people.