Release

Attorney General's Office Funds NYSCA Senior Care Training
NYSCA partners with UAlbany geriatric specialist Zvi Gellis to develop program

Contact: Karl Luntta (518) 437-4980

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 13, 2004) -- The New York State Coalition for the Aging, Inc. (NYSCA) has been awarded an $80,900 grant from the office of the Attorney General to provide education, information, and training on anxiety disorders to providers of senior services. With the training, services providers in both non-medical and medical settings will better understand anxiety disorders, learn to identify the symptoms, and make appropriate referrals and follow-up for older adults.

The grant will also help NYSCA provide material and literature to aging services providers throughout New York State, which will become available to seniors to better educate them about anxiety disorders and encourage them to discuss symptoms with their physicians.

NYSCA has contracted with Zvi D. Gellis, director of the Center for Aging Research at the UAlbany School of Social Welfare, to provide the trainings and assist in developing informational materials that will be distributed to NYSCA members and other senior care providers statewide. Gellis' research interests include developing screening and intervention programs for geriatric mental health problems.

"Early detection among the elderly can curb the debilitating effects of depression and anxiety, major public health issues,� said Professor Gellis. �The grant for the NYSCA education and training is extremely important to help improve the quality of care and attention provided to this segment of our aging population."

�We are excited about this opportunity to continue with our proud, long-standing history of providing quality education and training to providers around the state on issues confronting our aging population, we look forward to our partnership with UAlbany on this very important initiative,� stated NYSCA Executive Director Sandi Carroll. �If we are able to address these issues at their onset and provide appropriate care and support, hopefully we can avoid or delay the need for higher, more costly levels of care by keeping seniors in their homes and communities for longer periods of time.�

Training series for service providers for the aging will commence in June, 2004, and will include:

• Anxiety in community-dwelling elderly
• Prevalence and incidence of geriatric anxiety disorders
• Assessment of general anxiety disorders
• Standardized clinical anxiety screening
• Screening and assessment analysis
• Issues unique to the assessment of anxiety in the elderly
• Evidence-based interventions for geriatric anxiety
• Pharmacologic treatment for anxiety
  

The New York State Coalition for the Aging, Inc. (NYSCA) and its members believe that older adults have the right to live as independently as possible, with dignity, in their homes and communities with the appropriate support services. For over thirty years, NYSCA has provided strong advocacy, professional development, leadership skills and education for individuals and organizations serving older adults. We are dedicated to strengthening and expanding community-based services. For additional information on the organization, visit our website at: www.coalitionforaging.org or contact us at [email protected].