CONSUMER AFFAIRS BULLETIN
Volume 3, No. 2 Summer 1998

Older Adult Consumers/Survivors Voices are Heard

Older adult mental health consumers/survivors held their first national meeting in Chevy Chase, Md., on May 29-31, 1998. This group of about 40 representative older adult consumers/survivors clearly articulated the need for their own voice to speak for older adult mental health consumers/survivors. Participants created a steering committee with three subcommittees: (1) To refine a mission statement which the whole group drafted; (2) to do research and long range planning; and (3) to plan a follow-up meeting. The group also discussed what they felt were the most pressing needs addressing older adult mental health consumers/survivors. The prioritized needs were:

1. Public Education: to increase awareness of mental health issues, change attitudes, and reduce stigma and prejudice.
2. Consumer Education: on rights issues, the importance of being involved, and on self-esteem and having value.
3. Peer Support: to include support groups, drop-in centers, etc.
4. Provider Education: to increase competencies in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems of older adults and to increase provider sensitivity and communication skills to ensure consumers are treated with dignity and respect.
5. Access to Specialized Services: to facilitate older adult utilization of services focused specifically on their needs by assuring service availability and that restrictive access criteria be modified.
6. Legislative Education: to raise the awareness of elected officials on the mental health needs of older Americans.

A full report of the meeting is being prepared by the meeting’s contract or, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. (For information contact Paolo del Vecchio at (301) 443-2792.)

Consumer Affairs Bulletin
Volume 3, No. 2, Summer 1998