Aging Policy and Advocacy Update

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:

the recognition of the role of psychologists in mental health screening and assessment in a collaborative health care model within primary care
an expanded range of evidence-based interventions and locations/providers eligible for grants for community-based mental health treatment
at least one position on the National Advisory Council of the Center for Mental Health Services reserved for a psychologist
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:

Provide national attention and resources for elder justice issues
Improve quality, quantity and accessibility of information on abuse/neglect/exploitation
Increase research and resources on elder abuse issues
Develop forensic capacity for police and investigators
Provide victim assistance, "safe havens," and support for at-risk elders
Increase prosecution
Fund states' adult protective services systems
Expand and enhance training
Fund special programs to support underserved populations (rural and minority seniors)
Create model state laws and practices
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:

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
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:

drafting language for and/or expressing views on critical pieces of legislation
participating in interdisciplinary discussions/meetings
presenting at congressional briefings and hearings
contacting/meeting with key congressional offices and presenting yourself as a resource
acting as a media resource on aging issues
providing guidance/consultation on geropsychology research and practice