Older Adults Included in 2000 Legislation

Through the efforts of the Florida Coalition, legislation was passed that established "older adults" as a distinct "target population" to be recognized and served by Florida’s mental health and substance abuse systems. The total Coalition bill did not survive; however, a very significant portion did. That portion was included as part of a series of amendments redefining Florida statutes dealing with mental health and substance abuse delivery.

Through the collaborative efforts of Florida Coalition members like Ken Sarvis, Executive Director of the Mental Health Associations in Florida, and Senate and House members, particularly Representatives Lars Hafner and Nancy Argenziano, older adults were established as a target population in Senate Bill 358, Section 20.

Section 20 states: "The Department of Children and Families shall revise its target groups for substance abuse and mental health services approved pursuant to s. 216.0166, Florida Statutes, to include ‘older adults in crisis,’ ‘older adults who are at risk of being placed in a more restrictive environment because of their mental illness or substance abuse,’ ‘older adults with severe and persistent mental illness’ and ‘older adults in need of substance abuse treatment.’ The department shall track and report specifically on substance abuse and mental health services provided to older adults."

The Coalition’s activities have been instrumental in educating Floridians on issues related to mental health and substance abuse in older adults. We have received offers of support from community leaders should we wish to initiate another legislative initiative next session.

We continue to increase our membership by furthering our agenda of improving mental health and substance abuse services for older adults. Please encourage others in the community to join the Florida Coalition for Optimal Mental Health and Aging and our efforts.

Mark Your Calendar - Annual Florida Coalition Conference Scheduled

The Annual Florida Coalition Conference is scheduled for October 26 - 27, 2000. It will be held at the Travelodge on Busch Boulevard in Tampa, Florida.

The agenda for the October Conference includes workshops on a variety of topics of interest to professionals and consumers. CEC’s and CEU’s will be available.

The October agenda also includes an update on last year’s activities and the Coalition’s plans for 2000. Coalition Work Groups will also meet and report on their activities.

Look for more details on the web site.

Dr. Larry Dupree Promoted to AMH Chair

It was announced on May 9, 2000, that Dr. Larry Dupree has been appointed as the Chair of the Department of Aging and Mental Health, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, USF. According to Dean Shern, "Dr. Dupree has done an outstanding job serving in an acting capacity during the last several months. He has engaged in an ambitious program to help build a policy infrastructure in Florida for issues of aging, mental and addictive disorders through the work of the Aging Coalition."

The Many Faces of Substance Abuse in Older Adults
By the Public Education and Training Committee

Alcoholism or alcohol addiction is often called "the hidden problem" in older adults. The symptoms of addiction are often attributed to the aging process in older adults. It is never too late to treat substance abuse in older people.

There are two types of alcoholism: 1) early onset and 2) late onset. Early onset alcoholics comprise 66% of older alcoholics. Older adults who begin drinking in later life frequently do so to cope with multiple losses, such as retirement, death of a spouse, health or pain problems.

Often leading to addiction, misuse of prescription drugs is another significant substance abuse problem in the older person’s life. Tranquilizers are the second most prescribed medication, and half of all drugs given to older persons include some form of sedative.

Signs of substance abuse to look for in older adults: 1) empty liquor bottles present, 2) neglect of personal hygiene, 3) weight gain or loss, 4) confusion, depression or hostile behavior, 5) delusional or irrational thinking, 6) drinking alone, 7) loss of interest in activities, 8) increased social drinking, 9) ritualized drinking around meal time, 10) use of tranquilizers under stress, 11) memory loss, 12) increased difficulty with activities of daily living, 13) unexplained bruises, 14) odor of liquor or mouthwash, and 15) slurred speech or unstable gait.

Don’t ignore these signs of substance abuse. Screening for, and treatment of, chemical dependency can improve the overall quality of life for the older adult.

1. National Drug and Alcohol Service Helpline, 1-800-622-4357
2. Drug Help, 1-800-262-2463
3. National Clearing House for Alcohol and Drugs, 1-800-252-6465

Statewide Task Force on Outcome Performance Measures

The Department of Children and Families has commissioned a Task Force to develop Outcome Performance Measures for Older Adults served by the state’s Behavioral Health system.

The task force has met over the past few months, and during work group discussions, it became apparent that consumer representation is important to its work.

The task force has asked the Florida Coalition to help identify potential consumers for task force membership. Candidate nominations of consumers known to be willing to participate, if selected, and interested in either mental health or substance abuse outcome measurement (rather than focusing on delivery system content and/or needs/deficits) are sought. They must be able to meet for two days, once a month, in the Tampa Bay area.

Forward nominees to Dr. Larry Schonfeld (schonfel@fmhi.usf.edu; (813) 974-1946 Voice; (813) 974-1968 Fax).

The Florida Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Created by Florida’s Legislature last year, the Florida Commission will conduct a systematic review of the overall management of the state’s mental health and substance abuse systems. As well as looking at service availability and delivery in younger populations, the Commission has been directed to "Address the unique mental health and substance abuse needs of older persons." This phrase was an amendment to the initial legislative language achieved through the efforts of the Florida Coalition.

The 23 Florida Commissioners hold monthly meetings throughout the state. Dr. David Shern, Dean of the Florida Mental Health Institute, chairs the Commission. Each meeting is an open forum, providing an opportunity for public testimony. Three working committees have been established to address the mental health and substance abuse service systems for children, adults, and older adults. The older adult committee is co-chaired by Commissioners Sallie Parks and Jeremiah Singleton, with Larry Dupree (Coalition co-chair) providing support. Committees’ findings are provided to the larger body of Commissioners for their final report to the Governor and Legislature (due December 1, 2000). This final Report contains recommendations for improvement to the service systems.

The older adult committee is another means for Coalition members to participate in the development of exemplary mental health and substance abuse delivery systems. Your participation is an opportunity to shape the future of delivery systems for mental health and substance abuse for older adults.

Older adult committee meetings occur on May 19th at the USF campus in St. Petersburg, June 23rd in Tallahassee, July 21st in Ft. Myers and August 28th, TBA. For further information, contact Larry Dupree, dupree@fmhi.usf.edu; (813) 974-1964, (813) 974-1968 fax.

If you are unable to attend the meetings, and wish to contribute to the work of the older adult committee via a mail survey, please contact Larry Dupree.

Florida Coalition Work Groups

Long Term Care Services and Treatment

The most recent meeting of this Work Group was in Orlando on March 30, 2000, hosted by Gretchen Schitter and Westminster Towers. The Work Group discussed new therapies for schizophrenia, successful behavioral management programs, a support services overlay program used in Broward County which transitions people with severe and persistent mental illnesses to community settings, and the Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services "Elder Ed" program. The group also reviewed a video on caring for aggressive older adults, and reviewed a handout on substance abuse in older adults. Currently, the Work Group members are working on a survey to help develop their 2000 agenda.

For more information contact: Miriam Williams at (727) 538-7460 or williams@gcjfs.org.

Community Treatment and Services

The Community Treatment and Services Work Group has been working on the development of an informational letter to be sent to primary care physicians. Estimates are that 60-70% of patient visits to physicians are for concerns other than physical disease. The CTS Group’s focus is to inform primary care physicians about the importance of integrating counseling with medical services. They want to emphasize that this is the most effective means of dealing with mental health problems in older adults.

For more information contact: Frances L. Henry at (850) 663-7517.

Public Education, Prevention and Training

The Public Education, Prevention and Training Work Group met in October 1999, and February and April 2000. This group focused on two priorities: 1) development of a brochure for the Florida Coalition, and 2) creation of a Florida Coalition Speaker’s Bureau. The brochure has been developed and field tested, and is ready for distribution. The brochure is available to Coalition members to distribute at meetings, conferences or individually to potential members. Contact Betty Watson at (813) 974-1975 or bwatson@fmhi.usf.edu to request copies of the brochure. The members are now concentrating their efforts on developing the Florida Coalition Speaker’s Bureau. We are looking for speakers, who are members of the Coalition, to present information about relevant mental health and substance abuse issues, as well as provide information about the Coalition. Please review the letter published in this newsletter from Charles Boardman and Greer Peters, which explains how the Speaker’s Bureau will function. Take a minute to complete the questionnaire and mail it back to Betty Watson at the de la Parte Institute. For more information contact: Greer Peters at (941) 741-3131, Charles Boardman at (727) 789-3161.

Copyright © 2000 by the Florida Coalition for Optimal Mental Health and Aging