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Aging Policy and Advocacy Update
Aging Legislation | Congressional
Hearings | Aging Issues Advocacy | Coalition
Work | Aging Policy Materials |
How to Get Involved
Aging Legislation
The
Graduate Geropsychology Education initiative has been spearheaded by Nina
Levitt, Ed.D., who was successful in securing training funds as part of the
Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Program in the Bureau of Health Professions
approved by Congress in February 2002. In 2003, a separate funding stream of
$1.5 million was dedicated to geropsychology education and training.
The
Positive Aging Act (H.R.
2241/S.1456)
was introduced on May 22 by Representatives Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) and Steny
H. Hoyer (D-MD), Democratic Whip, while a companion bill was introduced in the
Senate on July 25 by Senator John Breaux (D-LA). This legislation is designed to
enhance access to mental health services for older adults through mental health
outreach to primary care and community-based settings.
Initially drafted by the American Association of Geriatric
Psychiatry and Rep. Kennedy's office, the bill was oriented to geriatric
psychiatry. However, prior to its re-introduction in this Congress, a team of
advocates, including Forrest Scogin, Ph.D., Toni Zeiss, Ph.D., and APA Public
Policy and Aging Office staff worked with Representative Kennedy's office and
AAGP to successfully modify the bill to provide an interdisciplinary model of
health care for older adults that is inclusive of psychology. These
modifications included:
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the recognition of the role of psychologists in mental
health screening and assessment in a collaborative health care model within
primary care
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an expanded range of evidence-based interventions and
locations/providers eligible for grants for community-based mental health
treatment
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at least one position on the National Advisory Council of
the Center for Mental Health Services reserved for a psychologist
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the inclusion of language that promotes a positive image of
older adults to reduce prejudice and stigma.
The
Elder Justice Act (S.333/H.R.
2490) was introduced in the Senate on February 10 by Senator John Breaux
(D-LA), and a companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on
June 17 by Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and cosponsors, Rep. Peter King (R-NY), and
House Majority Whip, Roy Blunt (R-MO). The bill as introduced inadvertently
omitted "psychologists" from a list of health care professionals
eligible for training through grants awarded as part of the legislation. In
April 2003, our aging team met with Senator Breaux's office and successfully
requested a technical amendment to include psychologists where omitted in the
Elder Justice Act. If enacted, the Elder Justice Act would:
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Provide national attention and resources for elder justice
issues
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Improve quality, quantity and accessibility of information
on abuse/neglect/exploitation
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Increase research and resources on elder abuse issues
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Develop forensic capacity for police and investigators
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Provide victim assistance, "safe havens," and
support for at-risk elders
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Increase prosecution
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Fund states' adult protective services systems
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Expand and enhance training
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Fund special programs to support underserved populations
(rural and minority seniors)
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Create model state laws and practices
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Establish an Elder Justice Resource Center and Library
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Congressional Hearings
Depression
and Suicide in Older Adults: On July 28, Senator John Breaux (D-LA)
chaired a hearing entitled, "Senior Depression: Life-Saving Mental Health
Treatments for Older Americans" before the Senate Special Committee on
Aging. Senators Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and Harry Reid (D-NV) were also in
attendance at this committee's first hearing since 1996 focusing on mental
health and aging issues. APA briefing materials on mental health and aging
issues were made available to congressional offices and members of the public.
The expert panel included two psychologists and APA members,
Donna Cohen, Ph.D., Department of Aging and Mental Health, University of South
Florida, and Jane Pearson, Ph.D., Associate Director for Preventive
Interventions at National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Dr. Cohen presented
compelling testimony related to elder homicide and suicide, while Dr. Pearson
highlighted current NIMH funded research on depression and suicide among older
Americans. Additional panelists included Ira Katz, M.D., University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Diana Waugh, an older adult mental health
consumer representing the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill; and Hickmah
Gardiner, an older adult mental health consumer recommended by our Public Policy
Office to Senator Breaux's staff.
The Public Policy Office extended our support to both of the
psychologists on the panel in the weeks prior to the hearing. In particular, we
worked closely with Dr. Cohen throughout the process by sharing APA aging policy
resources, holding a briefing luncheon before the hearing, and delivering her
testimony to Senator Breaux's office.
Ageism:
On May 19, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing entitled,
"Ageism in the Health Care System: Short Shrifting Seniors?" This
hearing focused on ageism from a medical perspective with little attention
directed to mental health. Because the contributions of psychological research
and practice were neglected, the aging policy team worked to highlight the work
of psychology on the issue of ageism by:
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Submitting written testimony related to ageism, with the
assistance of ageism experts in our field, that was included in the public
record of the Senate hearing on ageism
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Providing relevant resources from the psychological
community to the offices of Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), chairman, and
Senator John Breaux (D-LA), ranking member, of the Senate Special Committee
on Aging, including the book "Ageism: Stereotyping and Prejudice
Against Older Persons," edited by Todd Nelson, Ph.D., the May APA
Monitor article entitled, "Fighting Ageism" and the APA Resolution
on Ageism.
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Aging Issues Advocacy
Efforts
to Promote the Contributions of Psychology to Aging Issues: The policy team
continues to work closely with staff members of the Senate Special Committee on
Aging to share psychological research and practice that is relevant to aging
issues that the committee is currently highlighting, including older drivers,
suicide in older adults, older adults in rural communities, and emotional
longevity.
The
President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health: As you may know,
President Bush established the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental
Health in April 2002. Since the first meeting in June 2002, the public policy
team actively followed the efforts of the Commission. The Public Policy Office
worked closely with the Office on Aging preparing and submitting written and
verbal public testimony, providing resources to the Commission's Subcommittee on
Aging, and offering policy recommendations for improving the quality of care for
older adults.
On July 22, the Commission released its final report. Issues of
interest to older adults were mentioned in several sections of the 98-page
report, including the portions focusing on the connection between mental health
and physical health, suicide prevention, and mental health financing.
Learn
more about the Commission.
Achieving
the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America (Final
Report from the Commission)
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Coalition Work
The
National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging is a group of over 40 national
health and aging organizations committed to issues of mental health and aging.
The Coalition, staffed by the Office on Aging, meets quarterly at the APA
headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The
Elder Justice Coalition is a group of over 155 members in support of
national elder justice legislation. The coalition recently organized a
congressional briefing on the Elder Justice Act, as well as a series of regional
meetings to raise public awareness and support legislation on this issue. Public
Policy Office staff represent APA in order to support the contributions of
psychology in promoting elder justice.
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Aging Policy Materials
Psychology
and Aging Policy Brochure: The policy team is working with the Office on
Aging and CONA to develop a brochure related to psychology's contributions to
aging issues. The concept for this brochure, which will specifically target
policy makers, arose out of a background paper on this topic developed for the
CONA Conversation Hour held during the 2002 APA convention in Chicago. Outside
funding to transform the background paper into a professionally designed
promotional brochure has just been obtained.
Fact
Sheets: The policy team is working with the Office on Aging to create fact
sheets on important aging issues to be distributed to congressional offices,
individuals and groups interested in aging advocacy, and to psychologists and
the general public through the APA Office on Aging web page. Recently created
fact sheets include depression and older adults, suicide and older adults,
mental health and aging policy issues and recommendations, and the contributions
of psychology to the health and well being of older adults. We welcome comments
and suggestions regarding these important informational tools.
Read
fact sheets.
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How Psychologists Can Become Involved
in Supporting APA Aging Efforts
The
Public Policy Office and the Office on Aging welcome the contributions of
psychologists with an expertise in aging to assist in our efforts. We will soon
be creating a database of psychology and aging experts interested in
collaborating with APA on aging issues. There are a variety of ways in which
members can become involved, including:
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drafting language for and/or expressing views on critical
pieces of legislation
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participating in interdisciplinary discussions/meetings
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presenting at congressional briefings and hearings
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contacting/meeting with key congressional offices and
presenting yourself as a resource
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acting as a media resource on aging issues
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providing guidance/consultation on geropsychology research
and practice
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