As we age, people often talk about physical symptoms associated with getting older, but just as important – if not more important – is mental health. Mental health can have a profound impact on seniors, their caregivers, loved ones and the community.
Three senior care experts will talk about the trends, the challenges and the impacts of mental health and aging during a special panel discussion from 9 to 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, April 25 at CICOA, 8440 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Indianapolis.
The discussion, “Mental Health and the Aging Brain,” is open to the public and is the second in a four-part Envision Lecture Series CICOA is sponsoring in 2019. The cost to attend is $10 and students are free. To register, go to cicoa.org/events/envision.
The panel will include Dr. Andrew Class, a psychiatrist and director of Older Adult Services at St. Vincent Stress Center, who will talk about medical marijuana, CBD oil, esketamine and the opiate crisis as well as the impact on people suffering from chronic pain and treatment resistant depression.
Cynthia Reynolds, a licensed social worker at Sandra Eskenazi Center for Brain Care Innovation, will talk about the circumstances that can lead to mental health issues in the aging population and challenges of addressing them.
Todd Wagoner, a licensed social worker at Community Health Healthy Aging Transition Services, will talk about trends in caregiving as it relates to mental health. He’ll also talk about identifying emotions caregivers experience and recommend way to reduce caregiver stress.
CICOA is sponsoring the Envision Lecture Series to better engage and inform stakeholders and community leaders interested in improving the health and quality-of-life for seniors and people with disabilities.
Two more Envision Lectures are planned for July and November.
About CICOA
CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions is a nonprofit organization and the designated Aging and Disability Resource Center serving Central Indiana. CICOA provides a wide range of services for older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers, including care management, home health care, home-delivered and neighborhood meals, transportation, home accessibility modifications, respite care and caregiver assistance. For more information, go to CICOA.org.