Addiction and Mental Health Services for Older Adults

December 2020 blog post written by Sheila Roewade, Program Manager, Addiction and Counselling & Treatment Services with Addiction and Mental Health Services – Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (AMHS-KFLA).

During this time of worldwide pandemic, people everywhere are being affected in a myriad of ways. The way we live our lives has been altered significantly; where we work, and how we work, grocery shop, see a physician, visit friends, meet with family, celebrate holiday traditions and more. Many of the changes made to keep people safe have resulted in feelings of isolation, increased anxiety, stress, concern about our health, worry about the ongoing economic impact for ourselves and others.

Older adults and seniors are addressing all these limits on their activity, and may experience additional concerns. Isolation and the resulting dependence on technology to communicate with services, retail purchases and even reaching out to connect with friends and family, could be a barrier for some. Older adults have also been warned to be extra careful when outside the home, due to the increased risk of getting ill and having complications.

At Addiction and Mental Health Services – Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (AMHS KFLA), we have many various services available for every age. To review the list of Mental Health and Addiction services we have go to our website www.amhs-kfla.ca or call 613-544-1356 to talk to our Intake staff to learn more about our programs and community resources. We have put into place new ways for clients to access services, and to keep people healthy if they come to offices. If you prefer to meet with our staff from a distance, some services are available over the phone, with staff able to provide support remotely. If you do decide to visit one of our sites in person, we have many practices in place to ensure your safety, including masks provided, screening at the door and space to ensure social distancing within the building.

AMHS-KFLA also operates crisis lines for those in urgent need of support, these lines are staffed 24/7, 365 days a year by experienced professionals who can provide immediate support for urgent distress as well as advocacy and referrals to appropriate services as needed. Please reach out if you need support at 613-544-4229 (Kingston and Frontenac) or 613-354-7388 (Napanee and L&A).