Five County Focus: Get connected!


Five County Focus

From: Gina Dement, Public Information Officer
Five County Mental Health Authority

Get Connected!

Free Program offered to aging service providers or agencies to learn more about alcohol and medication misuse


Alcohol and medication misuse and mental health problems can be significant issues for older adults. Most people over 65 do not use illegal drugs, but almost 20% of older adults misuse alcohol, over-the-counter medicines, and prescription drugs–most often unintentionally. Prevention and prompt treatment can greatly enhance the health and lives of many older adults.

The Get Connected Toolkit was created to help aging services providers learn more about alcohol and medication misuse and mental health problems in older adults to address these issues more effectively.

Five County Mental Health Authority Care Coordinator, Cynthia Fenner is available to come to your organization and train your staff at NO COST on the following topics: identifying symptoms of alcohol and medication misuse; mental health problems; and resources for treatment and support. The intent of the training is not to turn your staff into prevention and treatment experts.

The “Get Connected” training has been designed to help aging services providers undertake health promotion, advance prevention messages and education, and identify mental health problems and the misuse of alcohol and medications.

Ms. Fenner also provides training to older adults who participate in community programs. The training includes awareness-raising and self-screening tools designed to help them overcome obstacles to seeking help. The training format is slightly different for staff and older adult clients/consumers.

There are 3 Different Sessions, which Ms. Fenner can offer to staff and/or older adults; each session is designed to last 90 minutes for staff, and 60 minutes for older adults. She can offer one, two or all three sessions–based on your needs and preference:

1) It Can Happen to Anyone–Coping with Life’s Transitions (Understanding that life transitions associated with Aging can lead to problems with alcohol and medications)

2) Using Medications Wisely (Impact of medication and alcohol misuse and the difficulty of recognizing these problems in the lives of older adults)

3) Keeping a Healthy Outlook on Life (Prevention and Treatment Effectiveness Pertinent to Alcohol and Mental Health Problems in Older Adults)

The Get Connected Toolkit is the result of a public-private partnership between the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Council on the Aging. The organizations met with older adult consumers and aging services providers to develop this training.

Organizations which already provide services to older adults in a friendly atmosphere are in the best position to benefit from the “Get Connected” training program. Your clients know and trust you and your referrals are very likely to result in follow-through.

If you would like additional information or if you are interested in this training, please contact:

Cynthia Weaver Fenner
Care Coordinator — Care Management Unit
Five County Mental Health Authority
Serving Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Vance & Warren Counties
Direct Number: (252) 430-3048
Fax: (252) 431-3465
HELPLINE: 1-877-619-3761 (Toll Free)