Aging & Mental Health Webinar

In September, 2022, CORE Canada launched a series of 90-minute sessions focused on Mobilizing to Promote Health and Well-Being for Older Adults. This health promotion series builds on the recent webinars offered by The National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH) and Health Promotion Canada (HPC) that explored public health action on health equity for an aging population and was based on content from the book “Promoting the Health of Older Canadians – The Canadian Experience”. The current series picks up on the webinar and book topics in an effort to mobilize action on various issues by focusing on effective models and the policies, practices, partnerships, and networks that support them. Through interviews and discussions with practitioners, researchers, and policy-makers, each session explores a topic and the key issues and challenges related to it, and examines some strategies and programs that have been successful in addressing the problems. In addition to Q&A, participants have the opportunity to more deeply probe and engage in the topic by accessing related resources and tools.

The number of older adults with mental illness or dementia is increasing in Canada. Mental illness and dementia can have a significant impact on the quality of life of seniors and their loved ones, and increase health care system costs. Prevention, early intervention and treatment efforts can help mitigate symptoms and/or associated behavioural challenges and improve quality of life. However, challenges in primary care, home and community care, long-term care and caregiver supports can impact whether or not older adults receive the care that they need. Health and social inequities can also impact seniors’ mental health and their access to care. Fortunately, there are a number of opportunities for improving older adults’ mental health, as well as enhancing access to mental health care and other supports that are evidence-informed and culturally relevant.

In this webinar, we will provide a brief overview of CAMH’s Aging and Mental Health Policy Framework. We will look at the challenges and opportunities in seniors’ mental health and highlight policy principles and recommendations for a comprehensive approach to aging and mental health. We will be joined by a CAMH expert in dementia care and research to talk about new developments in the area and evidence-based interventions to improve the quality of life of seniors living with dementia. An expert from LOFT Community Services will also join to talk about successful programs and supports for older adults with serious mental illness living in the community.

Register Here