[NYAPRS Enews] Study Finds Depression-Diabetes Link, Geriatric MH Alliance May 31 Conference

Thu Apr 26 09:10:22 EDT 2007

NYAPRS Note: New York's Geriatric Mental Health Alliance has aptly
pointed attention to the policy challenging of keeping up with the
growing numbers of older adults with mental health and related needs.
Following is information about their timely first conference, which
includes a focus on psychiatric rehabilitation services for seniors as
presented by a group led by John Javis, co-chair of NYAPRS' Geriatric
Task Force. The following piece highlights the critical importance of
looking at the interface and integration of physical and mental health
in seniors.

Symptoms Of Depression Associated With Development Of Diabetes In Older
Adults

Medical News Today  April 26, 2007

Older adults who have had symptoms of depression whether those symptoms
occurred once, increased or remained steady over a 10-year period may be
more likely to develop diabetes than those without depressive symptoms,
according to a report in the April 23 issue of Archives of Internal
Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Previous research suggests that high levels of symptoms of depression,
including irritability and trouble sleeping, are associated with
increased risk of development of type 2 diabetes, according to
background information in the article. However, with few exceptions,
most of the studies have defined symptoms of depression based on a
single survey filled out by participants. 

"Given the episodic nature of depression and depressive symptoms, a
single self-report of symptoms may not fully characterize the
association between depressive symptoms and diabetes," the authors
write.

Mercedes R. Carnethon, Ph.D., of Feinberg School of Medicine,
Northwestern University, Chicago, and colleagues followed a group of
4,681 participants age 65 and older (average age 72.7) who did not have
diabetes at the beginning of the study in 1989. Each year for 10 years,
the participants were evaluated for the presence of 10 symptoms of
depression, including those related to mood, irritability, calorie
intake, concentration and sleep. Symptoms were scored on a scale of zero
to 30, with scores of eight or higher indicating high levels of
symptoms. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical measures including
height and weight, and information about medication use that would
indicate the development of diabetes were also updated annually.

At the beginning of the study, the average depressive symptom score was
4.5, and one-fifth of participants had a score of eight or higher.
During the follow-up period, scores increased by at least five points in
nearly half the participants, and 234 individuals developed diabetes.
Rates of diabetes were higher among those with a score of eight or
higher, compared with those who had scores below eight.

"In this sample of older adults, a single report of high depressive
symptoms, an increase in symptoms with time and persistently high
symptoms over time are each associated with an excess incidence of
diabetes," the authors write. "Furthermore, increasing symptoms with
time are associated with incident diabetes beyond initial high
depressive symptoms and the association between increasing scores and
incident diabetes was strongest among those with initially low baseline
scores."

These associations were not explained by considering other risk factors
for diabetes, including physical activity, smoking and body mass index.
"The pathophysiologic mechanism for this association remains unclear,"
the authors write.

"Our findings in this population of older adults are of particular
public health importance because there are 35 million U.S. adults older
than 65 years," they conclude. Because an estimated 2 million older
adults experience depression or a related illness and 15.3 percent of
those over 65 have diabetes, "findings from this study of a novel and
highly prevalent risk factor for diabetes have important implications
for a substantial subset of our population."

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=68757&nfid=al

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The Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York's 1st Annual Geriatric
Mental Health Conference

GERIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH: Challenges and Opportunities Across the Horizon

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2007

9:00am - 4:00pm

New York Hotel Pennsylvania

New York City, New York

http://www.mhawestchester.org/advocates/gmha053107.pdf

Nursing and Social Worker CEUs have been applied for this conference;
approval is pending.

The Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York

666 Broadway, Suite 200 .. New York, NY 10012

Registrar Phone: (518) 281-2754 .. Registrar Fax: (518)-689-4824

Join your colleagues at the first annual conference of the Geriatric
Mental Health Alliance of New York. Mental health, health and, geriatric
social services providers and professionals , advocates, researchers,
academics, public officials, older adults, recipients of mental health
services and family members from across New York State are invited to
learn and share best practices, clinical skills and strategies, and
innovative models for best serving the aging population with mental
health needs. This will be a valuable networking opportunity as well - 

PROGRAM AGENDA 

9:00am - 10:00am 

Registration and Poster Session 

9:30am - 10:00am 

Opening Remarks 

Michael B. Friedman, Chair, Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York

10:00am - 10:45am 

Keynote Address 

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
OF OLDER ADULTS 

Steve Bartels, MD, MS 

Dr. Bartels is a Professor of Psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School and
Director of the Aging Services Research Program and Director of the
Behavioral Health Policy Institute at the New Hampshire-Dartmouth
Psychiatric Research Center. He served as a consultant to the
President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health's Subcommittee on
Older Adults. Dr. Bartels is a past president of the American
Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. 

10:45am - 12:00pm 

INNOVATIONS PANEL ON INTEGRATING HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 

This esteemed panel will discuss innovative models for integrating
health and mental health services to address co-morbid mental and
physical health needs among elders. 

Integrating Mental Health and Health in the Community 

Martha Bruce, Ph.D., M.P.H., Professor of Sociology in Psychiatry, Weill
Medical College of Cornell University 

Improving Mental Health in Long-Term Care Settings 

Alene Hokenstad, MSSA Project Director, United Hospital Fund 

Addressing the Needs of Older Adults Who Are High Cost Cases 

Neil Pessin, Ph.D., Director of Community Mental Health Services,
Visiting Nurse Service of New York 

Luncheon 

12:00pm- 1:15pm 

Luncheon Speaker: Michael Burgess, Director, New York State Office for
the Aging 

Michael Burgess was appointed by Governor Eliot Spitzer, and confirmed
by the New York State Senate, to serve as the Director of the New York
State Office for the Aging in February 2007. As Director of the State
Office for the Aging, Mr. Burgess oversees the administration of federal
and state funded programs designed to assist the more than 3.2 million
elderly residents in the state, as well as programs that assist family
members and others involved with helping elderly residents that are in
need of greater levels of assistance. 

1:15pm - 2:30pm 

Concurrent Sessions 

1) RETIREMENT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE: HELPING OLDER ADULTS DECIDE ABOUT
THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO EMPLOYMENT 

Sheila H. Akabas, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Workplace Center,
Columbia University School of Social Work 

Lauren B. Gates, Ph.D., Research Director, Workplace Center, Columbia
University School of Social Work 

Margaret Merrifield, M.S., Program Manager, Workplace Center, Columbia
University School of Social Work 

2) THE SENIOR HEALTH AND RESEARCH (SHARE) ALLIANCE 

John Olsan, Director, Eldersource Care Management Services, Inc.

Theresa Frederick, Mental Health Specialist, Eldersource Care Management
Services, Inc. 

Eric Frey, President, PeerPlace Networks LLC 

Yeates Conwell, Director, SHARE Alliance 

1:15pm - 2:30pm 

Concurrent Sessions - continued 

3) ACHIEVING BEST PRACTICES FOR PALLIATIVE CARE FOR NURSING HOME
RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA 

Susan Rosendahl-Masella, Ph.D., Research Associate, Schervier Center for
Research in Geriatric Care, Schervier Nursing Care Center 

Susan Caccappolo, MSSW, LCSW, Palliative Care Coordinator & Training
Associate, Schervier Center for Research in Geriatric Care, Schervier
Nursing Care Center 

4) BEST PRACTICES IN HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY 

A Model of In-Home Mental Health and Case-management Services for the
Elderly 

Michael Mitchell, LMSW, GMHOS Administrator, JASA 

Pat Buonanno, LCSW, GMHOS Psychiatric Social Worker, JASA 

Optimizing Home and Community-Based Services for Seniors with Mental
Health Needs 

Herb Ruben, LCSW, Executive Director, Penisula Counseling Center 

Senior Outreach Program: A Model Mental Health Project for Older Adults 

Nancy Harvey, Executive Director, Service Program for Older People, Inc.
(SPOP) 

5) MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FOR OLDER ADULTS 

Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., CEO/Medical Director, The Holliswood Hospital 

Michael DeFalco, Psy.D., Program Director of Adult Services, The
Holliswood Hospital 

1:15pm - 2:30pm 

Concurrent Sessions - continued 

6) EDUCATING TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL FRONTLINE STAFF AND
CAREGIVERS ABOUT GERIATRIC DEPRESSION 

Leonard Blank, BCC, Co-Chair, Taskforce on Mental Health Issues of the
Elderly, Director of Special Programs, United Jewish Council and
Director of Pastoral Care, Bialystoker Center for Nursing and
Rehabilitation 

Martha Pollack, LCSW, Co-Chair, Taskforce on Mental Health Issues of the
Elderly, Director of Social Services, United Jewish Council, Beth Israel
Medical Center, Senior Social Worker 

Sin Yung Lo, LMSW, Taskforce Member, Henry Street Settlement, Vladeck
NORC Program Coordinator 

Bella Zaltsman, LMSW, Taskforce Member, Assistant Director of Social
Services, United Jewish Council 

2:30-2:45 

Break 

2:45pm - 4:00pm 

Concurrent Sessions 

1) CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR HEALTHY AGING 

Molly Krakowski, JPAC Director, JASA 

JPAC Members TBA 

2:45pm - 4:00pm 

Concurrent Sessions - continued 

2) THE HARDEST QUESTIONS OF ALL: TEACHING COMMUNITY GATEKEEPERS A QPR 

APPROACH TO SUICIDE PREVENTION IN OLDER ADULTS 

Heather A. Von Bergen, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of
Psychology, Stern College for Women of Yeshiva University 

Carol Podgorski, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry; Associate
Director of SHARE Alliance, University of Rochester; Monroe Community
Hospital 

3) GRIEF ISSUES IN SENIOR ADULTS: CLINICIAN KNOW THYSELF 

Jennifer Wortham, Manhattan Borough Director, JASA 

4) AN INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS 

Monica Serrano, MPH, Policy Analyst, United Neighborhood Houses of New
York 

Jessica Walker, Senior Policy Analyst, United Neighborhood Houses of New
York 

Rosemary Venter, Director of Senior Services, Lincoln Square
Neighborhood Center, Inc. 

2:45pm - 4:00pm 

Concurrent Sessions - continued 

5) PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION AND OLDER ADULTS 

John A. Javis, Director of Special Projects, MHA Nassau County &
Co-Chair, NYAPRS Geriatric Task Force 

William Bell, Team Leader, MHA Nassau County 

John Agnew, Member, Gathering Place Clubhouse 

6) REPRESENTING SENIORS TO MAINTAIN COMMUNITY-BASED HOUSING AND TO
MAXIMIZE MEDICAL BENEFITS 

Jeanette Zelhof, Deputy Director, MFY Legal Services 2007 CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE 

Kenneth Lau, Supervising Attorney, MFY Legal Services MEMBERS 

Orier Okumakpeyi, Staff Attorney, MFY Legal Services 

Jadhira Rivera, Staff Attorney, MFY Legal Services Laura Cameron, New
York State 

4:00pm  Adjournment 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

HOTEL DEADLINE: May 9, 2007 Public Health 

To make your hotel reservations at the New York Hotel Pennsylvania, 

Participants must call the Reservation Office during business hours at
212-736-5000, ext. 8460 or toll free at 800-223-8585 to reserve their 

room before the cut-off date of May 9, 2007. of Community Services 

ROOM RATES: Single/Double Rate: $189 of Cornell University 

Check-in: 3:00pm/Check-out: 12:00noon 

Geriatric Mental Health Alliance Conference .. May 31, 2007 

REGISTRATION FEE 

*** Full payment or purchase order must be received upon receipt of this
contract in order to process registration*** 

$150 received before May 11th 

$175 received after May 11th 

For complete registration form, go to
http://www.mhawestchester.org/advocates/gmha053107.pdf

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