Family Pride of Northeast Ohio, alongside regional multiple organizations — including Lake County Council on Aging, Adult Protective Services, and the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board — is partnering to cultivate a community-based, senior-focused mental health service.
The goal of the collaboration serves to foster prompt recognition and treatment of mental health and substance-use needs of seniors throughout Lake County, officials confirmed.
Additionally, the program aims to focus on reducing the “many barriers to the health and emotional well-being” of seniors throughout Lake County through case management and therapy services.
According to officials, Family Pride’s in-home service model takes away older adults’ mobility and/or transportation barriers, as agency staffers bring needed services to them.
“Offering services in their home enables our team to observe, first-hand, the strengths and challenges that our clients have in their lives,” said Family Pride Executive Director Angi Daugherty.
Challenges may include safety, basic needs, and health care access, in addition to natural and community support systems like family and friends, and local organizations.
Moreover, developing a treatment plan that builds upon clients’ strengths, access to community and natural resources, and addressing daily coping skills to improve overall emotional and physical well-being is also a significant element of service.
“Although the Lake County ADAMHS Board can provide free transportation for in-office counseling, we understand this may still be a barrier,” said Executive Director Kim Fraser. “Behavioral health care, to anyone who needs it, is a goal, and we believe in-home therapies, like this, can be an important and effective tool in helping improve the quality of life for our older citizens.”
Family Pride also partners with the Geauga County’s Senior Services Program running a similar program. Multicounty collaboration, with $60,000 funded by the ADAMHS Board, serves to streamline operational and referral processes, officials confirmed.
For more information, visit www.FamilyPrideOnline.org.
