Memorandum in Support

S.4742 Sen. Spano/A.7672 Asm. Rivera

The New York State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers supports S.4742/A.7672 which establishes the "comprehensive geriatric mental health act."  This legislation would include structural changes providing improved leadership and interagency collaboration; planning to prepare for the elder boom; quality improvement measures; a services demonstration program; public education and workforce development.

In New York State the number of older adults, 65 and over, will increase over 50% from 2.4 million to 3.7 million.  The number of older adults with mental illnesses will increase more than 50% in New York State from 500,000 to 750,000.  Only 20 to 25% currently receive services from mental health professionals.

New York State is not adequately prepared to meet the mental health needs of elder baby boomers.  Older adults with mental disorders are currently underserved and will become increasingly underserved as there is a rapid increase in the number of older adults in New York State.  Existing services, workforce, governmental infrastructure, and state planning are inadequate to meet the special needs of this key group. 

Of over 500,000 older adults with mental illness in New York State, programs operated, licensed or funded by the office of mental health will serve approximately 55,000 people.  Approximately 65,000 additional people will get services from mental health professionals in the private sector.  Often the mental health professionals serving adults do not have special expertise in geriatric mental health, and even though the co-occurrence of mental and physical illnesses is common, usually mental health services are not coordinated with physical health services.  In addition, approximately 100,000 people with mental illnesses will get treatment from primary care physicians, who often do not have the clinical expertise to diagnose or treat mental illnesses.  Approximately 50% of older adults with mental illness will not get treatment at all. 

In order to prepare for the elder boom, New York State must engage in interagency planning, develop new and integrated approaches to serving older adults with mental illnesses, increase public understanding of mental illness and treatment, and take steps to build a workforce that will be able to provide clinically and culturally competent services to a vastly increased population.

The New York State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers urges the Legislature to support S.4742/A.7672 thereby preparing for the elder boom and improving the quality of care for the elderly.