title: Geriatric Case Managers' Perspectives on Suicide Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
abstract: It has been suggested that clinical screening for suicide, along with firearm assessment and safety counseling, are important in service provision to older adults. It is unclear, however, how geriatric case managers respond to these issues. This study surveyed geriatric case managers (n=161) from Area Agencies on Aging in Ohio on their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to suicide, firearm assessment, and safety counseling. Results indicated that the majority of respondents (70%) agree their clients are at risk for suicide. However, few (30%) in this study reported that they assess for firearms and less than half (48%) discuss firearms with their clients/family members when specifically assessing for suicide. Analyses identified barriers that contribute to the decreased likelihood that routine firearm assessment and safety counseling would occur, such as lack of training and time. Implications include the need for training with geriatric case managers that addresses barriers to suicide, firearm assessment and safety counseling as a means to decrease these population risks.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Social Work , Malone University , Canton , Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Slovak
authors.affiliation: b College of Social Work , University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky , USA.
authors.forename: Natalie D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.affiliation: c College of Public Health , Kent State University , Kent , Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Brewer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000071959:Case Managers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009820:Ohio; D024382:Professional Role; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
keywords: Suicide prevention; aging; geriatric case managers; older adults