Aging Related Resources
Below are several age-informed trainings and resources, external to the Department, that readers may find useful.
Resources for Professionals
- Certificate Programs
- Topics
Behavioral Health in Aging Certificate via Boston University's CADER Team, online, 19 hours, $325
Certificate in Gerontology via OSU OKC, online, 25 hours, $159
Cares Dementia Basics & Advanced Certification via HealthCare Interactive, online, 4 hours for Dementia Basics at $199 or 6 additional hours for Dementia Advanced Care at a total cost of $299
Foundational Competencies in Older Adult Mental Health via the E4 Center of Excellence at Rush Univ., online, 16 hours, $175 if seeking CEs
Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults via MHFA Oklahoma, this is a link to book a training of ≥10 individuals, in-person, 8 hours, no cost (indicate in the final box of the registration form that you are wanting the version for engaging with Older Adults)
988 Teams: Older Adults in Crisis: Call Center Resources Developed for 988 & Crisis Call Center Staff via the E4 Center of Excellence at Rush Univ., also ideal for Mobile, Urgent Recovery, and Crisis Center Teams, online, 1.5 hours, no cost
Clinical Confounds and Conflations: Serious Mental Illness, Dementia, or Both via the E4 Center for Excellence at Rush Univ., recorded webinar, 1.5 hours, no cost
Grief and Loss: Beyond the Basics: Enhancing Healthy Grief Reactions in Bereaved Clients via the E4 Center of Excellence at Rush Univ., recorded webinar, 2 hours, no cost
I/DD: Aging with Intellectual & Developmental Disability via Boston University's CADER Team, online, 3 hours, $90
LGBTQ+: Caring for LGBTQ+ Older Adults Using a Behavioral Health Lens via the E4 Center of Excellence at Rush Univ., recorded webinar, 1.25 hours, no cost
Substance Misuse: Alcohol, Cannabis, Other Substance Misuse Among Older Adults: New Findings to Inform Prevention & Interventions via the E4 Center of Excellence at Rush Univ., recorded webinar, 1.5 hours, no cost
Suicide: Suicide in Later Life: Clinical and Public Health Perspectives via the E4 Center of Excellence at Rush Univ., recorded webinar, 1 hour, no cost
Trauma: Trauma Informed Care & Strategies to Engage Older Adults via the E4 Center for Excellence at Rush Univ., recorded webinar, 1.5 hours, no cost
For organizations: For organizations: Age and Dementia Friendly technical assistance to facilitate practice implementation of the 4Ms (What Matters Most, Mobility, Medication, and Mentation) Oklahoma Dementia Care Network or call 405-271-8558 or e-mail OKDCN@ouhsc.eud
For organizations: NBCC hosted a Medicare Roadmap Webinar Series aimed at informing mental health counselors (MHCs), marriage and family therapists (MFTs), and other key stakeholders about the launch of Medicare recognition of these licensures beginning in 2024
Resources for Community Members, Advocates, and/or Older Adults
- Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind and Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind for the Dementia Caregiver, online and in-person options, 4 hours over 4 weeks, no cost
- Healthier Choices, Healthier You (for people living with chronic health conditions), online and in-person options, 15 hours over 6 weeks, no cost
- Information & Checklist-Assisted living for people with mental health disorders from AssistedLiving.org. This site also has resources, guides, and information on assisted living for specific populations (e.g. racial/ethnic minorities, faith minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people living with specific diagnosis), taxes, financial resources, and caregiver support.
- A Matter of Balance, online and in-person options, 12 hours over 12 weeks, no cost
- Oklahoma Aging Advocacy Leadership Academy, combination of online and in-person, please see website for details
- Powerful Tools for Caregivers, online and in-person options, 9 hours over 6 weeks, no cost
- Questions Older Adults Can Ask a Healthcare Provider About Alcohol, Substances, and Drugs
- Silver Spaces Home Assessment: The vast majority of older adults want to remain in their own homes and communities. This “universal liveability” assessment is a resource for homeowners and professionals that can provide valuable insights to reduce injuries from trips, falls, and other hazards in a home as even minor modifications can make a big difference in safety and life quality.
Other Resources
- Fact Sheets
- Podcasts/Ted Talks
- Articles
- Books
- Online Resources
- 10 Myths About Aging from the National Institute on Aging: Did you know that depression is NOT a normal part of aging and neither is living with dementia? Did you know that older adults do NOT need less sleep? Check-out this article to learn more.
- Fact Sheet: The State of Suicide Among Older Adults in Oklahoma
- Podcast: Empowering Independence by Villages OKC
- Podcast: Knowledge for Caregivers
- Podcast: Midlife Mixtape Episode 110-Redefining How to Live Better, When We're Living Longer
- Podcast: Older Women and Friends-Episode: The Wonderful Assets to Getting Older with Social Gerontologist Jeanette Leardi
- Podcast: Raising OKC Kids-Conversations with Metro Family, Dec. 5th 2023 Episode with Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Carrie Slatton-Hodges and Director of Oklahoma Mental Health and Aging Coalition Karen Orsi
- Podcast: Podcast: When I'm 64 (the many faces, challenges, and triumphs of caregiving)
- TED Talk: Let's end ageism
- TED Talk: What makes a good life? Lessons Learned from the Longest Study on Happiness
- YouTube: Variety of Videos (2 to 60 minutes) from the National Center to Reframe Aging
- Experts examine elderly care in Oklahoma, ranked 46th in long-term services, supports (2023) by Jillian Taylor from KOSU NPR. Keywords: Staffing, Options Counseling, PACE (Programs of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly), Advantage Waiver
- Exploring the Health Effects of Ageism: Yale Psychologist Becca Levy on how ageism affects physical and cognitive health and well-being (2022) by Paula Span from the NYTimes. Keywords: Ageism, Health Outcomes, 7.5 Added Years, Bias, Cardiovascular, Memory, Negative Self Perception, Research
- Older Americans are the Ignored Victims of the Opioid Epidemic (2022) by Tara Law from TIME. Keywords: Overdose, Unique Risk, Prescriptions, Illicit Drugs, Harm Reduction, Prevention, Treatment “In 2019, nearly 10,300 people ages 55 and older died from opioid overdoses, compared to just over 500 in 1999”.
- The power and limits of law to fight structural ageism, ableism, and racism (2023) by Gelila Selassie and Denny Chan from Generations by American Society on Aging. Keywords: Home and Community Based Services, Options Counseling, Institutional Bias, Equitable Access
- Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live (2022) by Becca Levy, PhD
- This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism (2016) by Ashton Applewhite
- The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness (2023) by Robert Waldinger, MD and Marc Schulz, PHD
- Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness
- Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities
- Compilation of Oklahoma Resources focused on Aging
- Diverse Elders Coalition
- OKCares-Support & Resources for Caregivers
- Oklahoma Association of Area Agencies on Aging
- Oklahoma Mental Health & Aging Coalition
- Oklahoma's 988 Lifeline for Mental Health
- National Center to Reframe Aging
- National Council on Aging
- National Indian Council on Aging
- E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging at Rush University
