title: Training older adults to work as psychiatric case management aides.
abstract: Adults who were age 55 and over were trained to work as case management aides for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. The training program was a cooperative effort of several state, academic, and private agencies in the New Orleans area, including the department of psychiatry at a state university medical center, the State Office of Mental Health, a consortium of colleges and universities providing educational opportunities for older adults, and the American Association of Retired Persons. The program curriculum included ten weeks of classroom instruction and a four-month field practicum. Of the 14 participants in the initial group of trainees, 13 sought and received employment as case aides. At follow-up three months after employment, supervisors of the case aides rated their job performance as excellent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans 70112.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Speier
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Osofsky
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017145:Models, Educational; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011566:Psychiatric Aides / Q000193:education*; D000078329:Workforce