The Elder Education Institute at Sound Generations (EEI) offers educational curricula that addresses the ever-evolving needs and concerns of older adults.

In 2024, 4 million adults turned 65 in the U.S. That’s nearly 11, 000 per day. With the miracle of longevity, these numbers will continue to grow, and by 2053, 23% of the population will be 65 and older.

Despite the critical need, there is a deficit of professionals trained to work with the specific needs of older adults, especially their mental health needs, which are unique from those of younger adults.

The Elder Education Institute’s mission is to stay abreast of the unique concerns of this growing population and to provide cutting edge education that prepares professionals to help our elders age with caring support and dignity.

According to the John A. Hartford Foundation’s Geriatric Social Work Initiative “the continued growth of the older adult population…will escalate the need for trained professionals with geriatric knowledge, skills and values…the nation needs to act now to prepare the healthcare workforce to meet the needs of older adults.”

The Elder Education Institute is proud to be at the forefront of the effort to fill the gap in educational opportunities for professionals who choose to work with our elders.  Our program is unique in that it focuses on the mental health needs of older adults and the impact that mental health can have on other aspects of aging.

Our professional level, CEU granting trainings are 3-6 hours in duration and are offered on the Zoom platform. Currently, we offer CEUs to mental health professionals in Washington State through the WMHCA. Recognizing the wide need for these trainings, we are working to expand our accreditation capacity to the national level and to more health professions. Taught by experts in the field of geriatrics, our workshops are geared toward mental health professionals, we welcome all clinicians, health professionals and service providers who work with older adults.

The Elder Education Institute is designed and managed by Education Specialist, Alison Laird Craig. Sabrina Jones, MSW, Director of Assistance Services at Sound Generations, oversees the program. Alison can be reached at alisonc@soundgenerations.org If you have questions, suggestions or would like to teach a workshop, please reach out to her.

The Elder Education Institute offers full and partial scholarships to those in need of financial assistance. Please reach out to Alison for more Information.

Previous workshops include:

• Integrating Heartache and Loss in Working with Older Adults
• Assessing Decisional Capacity and Cognitive Change in Older Adults
• Exploring Ageism as Implicit Bias
• Working with Elders Who Hoard
• Enhancing Dementia Personhood Through the Arts
• Affirming Care for LGBTQ+ Older Adults
• Personality Disorders in Older Adults

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Upcoming Workshops

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Elders Who Hoard: What It Looks Like and How We Can Help

with Cricket Farr, MA, LMHC, GMHS

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024, 9am-4:30pm PDT

6 CEUs from WMHCA

Scholarships Available

In this workshop, we will discuss Hoarding Disorder, with a special focus on the Older Adult population. Participants will learn how to diagnose HD as well as how to identify safety and health related challenges. We will explore the research around a variety of Evidence Based Interventions and discuss how to implement these approaches in different practice settings. Cricket will present several assessment tools and teach common ways to utilize them in both clinical practice and in housing stabilization settings.  Finally, we will identify community resources for both clinicians and clients to utilize in addressing Hoarding Disorder. 

In this workshop you will learn to:

• Understand fundamental features of Hoarding Disorder (HD) and differentiate myths from facts
• Recognize the impact of HD on older adults and the broader community
• Explore evidence-based mental health interventions
• Explore what a Harm Reduction approach to hoarding disorder looks like
• Learn about assessment tools for assessing level of risk
• Identify other community resources you & your client can access for and approaches for addressing late-life hoarding

Catherine “Cricket” L. Farr, MA, LMHC, GMHS, provides treatment, training, resources, consultation and supervision to clients and professionals across Washington.  Cricket works with Full Life Care (FLC) in Seattle, WA, doing everything from providing evidenced based hoarding treatment to establishing FLC’s Hoarding Support Group.  A licensed mental health counselor and a geriatric mental health specialist, Cricket provides valuable perspective on aging to all five (5) of the teams she supervises at Full Life. All these teams are focused on housing stability and everyone assists people who hoard.  As co-facilitator of the Northwest Hoarding Coalition (NWHC) Cricket links housing providers with services needed to support residents. Her future goals include designing a county plan addressing hoarding, increasing availability of Hoarding Support Groups, and training more mental health providers on how to implement Evidence Based Protocols for Hoarding Disorder.  She enjoys reading mystery novels, crocheting, walking her dog, and one day, she hopes to learn how to knit.  

6 Continuing Education credits for Washington State based social workers, mental health clinicians and marriage and family counselors from the WMHCA. All case managers and other service providers from all industries are also welcome to attend.

9am – 4:30 pm PDT Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024. The workshop begins promptly at 9am, and includes short breaks and a lunch break. This class will be taught over Zoom. Workshop information and Zoom link will be sent out 1 week beforehand. Please make sure to save the link.

COST – $150  REGISTRATION IS OPEN   SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

PLEASE NOTE : For those of you with special payment arrangements or organizational group discounts, please contact Alison at alisonc@soundgenerations.org to register.

 

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Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation

with Kris Fredrickson, MSW, LICSW

Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 9am- 4:30pm

6 CEUs from WMHCA

Scholarships Available

 

In this workshop, we will learn about the types of Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation and explore what is known about the prevalence, risk factors, cultural elements and perpetrator profiles involved when abuse occurs. Guidance around reporting procedures will be discussed and the role of Adult Protective Services. The class will improve knowledge of prevention strategies and interventions to consider for those who experience abuse. The class will also discuss the ethical considerations surrounding these complicated cases, including in assessment of cognitive capacity.

In this workshop you will learn to:

• Understand the types of abuse, neglect and exploitation and indicators of each.
• Become familiar with elder abuse, neglect and exploitation prevalence and local statistics.
• Understand the risk and cultural factors involved in abuse, neglect and exploitation. Understand the contributing factors involved in perpetrator behavior.
• Understand capacity issues in relation to elder abuse.
• Understanding of the law and legal implications involved.
• Awareness of actions and interventions to support survivors of elder abuse.

Kris Fredrickson, MSW, LICSW is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in practice at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center in the Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center and Geriatric Primary Care Services. She holds an MSW and a Certificate in Geriatric Mental Health from the University of Washington. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the UW School of Social Work.  She has worked for 20 years at the VA providing assessment, education, care coordination and caregiver coaching & support around issues pertaining to Neurocognitive Disorders, geriatric health/mental health conditions and social determinants of health. Clinical work history includes inpatient & outpatient psychiatry services, community mental health with those living with chronic mental disorders, homelessness and substance use, diagnosis & assessment, and King County jail liaison.  She is an active educator supervising social work interns from several universities, providing classes and guest lectures on geriatric topics including Elder Abuse & Neglect, Dementia, Delirium & Depression, PTSD & Aging, and understanding Advanced Care Planning and how to conduct difficult discussions.  

6 Continuing Education credits for Washington State based social workers, mental health clinicians and marriage and family counselors from the WMHCA. All case managers and other service providers from all industries are also welcome to attend.

9am – 4:30 pm PDT Wednesday, November 13th, 2024. The workshop begins promptly at 9am, and includes short breaks and a lunch break. This class will be taught over Zoom. Workshop information and Zoom link will be sent out 1 week beforehand. Please make sure to save the link.

COST – $150  REGISTRATION IS OPEN  SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

PLEASE NOTE : For those of you with special payment arrangements or organizational group discounts, please contact Alison at alisonc@soundgenerations.org to register.

 

Working with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities in Older Adults with Zack Siddeek and Tracie Warren-Lozano of Arc of King County

Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 10am- 3pm PDT

More TBA Soon