Late-life depression impairs quality of life and the ability to function and enjoy old age. But despite recent advances, older adults suffering with depression often do not seek or receive effective treatment.
One of the most promising approaches to improving the reach and effectiveness of late-life depression care is through the systematic involvement of community-based organizations (CBOs), family, and primary care clinics that work with older adults. Together, these community-engaged partnerships have tremendous potential to improve:
- access to care;
- engagement in treatment;
- the patient care experience;
- quality of care for depressed older adults; and
- the ability to address social needs.
In collaboration with the University of Washington and the University of California, Davis, Archstone Foundation funded the Care Partners project, which supported 12 sites from 2015 through 2020 in this partnered approach to depression care for older adults.
The sites met regularly throughout the project to discuss approaches to care and ways to improve treatment. These meetings included several skills-based learning webinars that are now available to others interested in learning about effective depression care:
- Care Partners: Treatment for Older Adults, Presenter: Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA. December 19, 2018
- Care Partners: Medication Management, Presenter: Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA. June 6, 2019
- Care Partners: Goal Setting and Treatment Planning, Presenters: Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA and Patrick Raue, PhD. January 30, 2019
- Brief Behavioral Skills: Behavioral Activation, Presenters: Dr. Kari Stephens and Dr. Patrick Raue, PhD. November 23, 2019
We hope you’ll take advantage of these resources and pass them along to others in your network.
