Forest Hills Connection || News and Life in Our DC Neighborhood

Covering Forest Hills, Van Ness, North Cleveland Park and Wakefield

  • About Us
    • About Forest Hills Connection
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Donate
      • Donate & Subscribe
      • “Scoop the Poop” Signs
  • Classifieds
  • News
    • ANC 3F
    • Business
      • Business in Brief
      • Out to Eat
      • Shop & Eat Local
    • Getting Around
      • Metrobus and Rail
      • Pedestrian Updates
    • Elections
    • Main Street
    • Neighborhood in the News
    • Opinion
    • Parks and Streams
    • Real Estate
    • UDC
  • Style
    • Food
      • Farmers Market Finds
    • History
    • Meet the Neighbors
    • Neighbors Recommend
    • Services
    • Things To Do
      • Local Attractions
    • Travel
    • Featured Photos
  • Home Front
    • High-Rise Life
    • In the Garden
    • In the Kitchen
  • Backyard Nature
    • Local Wildlife
    • Wildlife Photos
  • Kids & Pets
    • At School
    • At Play
    • Kids Write
    • Pets
  • Calendar

Aging in Place: Mental Health

May 14, 2012 by FHC

Roughly one-sixth of Forest Hills residents were 65 or older during the 2010 Census. They and their families may someday benefit from a new, nearby training program for mental health professionals.

Washington School of Psychiatry, 5028 Wisconsin Ave.

by Elaine C. Melmed

Responding to the crucial and ever expanding need for more and better trained mental health professionals to work with the burgeoning aging populations in the United States, The Washington School of Psychiatry (WSP) in collaboration with Iona Senior Services, established a new training program, “Psychotherapy with Older Adults and The Study of Aging.”

The concerns that have led to the establishment of this training program are:

  • More people living longer than ever before and it is estimated that the numbers will continue to grow for the next 30 to 40 years.
  • Most older people adjust successfully to aging, but some – especially those subjected to poverty, isolation, physical illness and multiple stresses, are highly vulnerable to mental illness.
  • Older people face numerous changes and losses – physical, emotional, economic and social – an accumulation of stressful events to which constant adaptation is required.
  • The most common mental disorder among older people is depression, but often dementia, delirium and cognitive dysfunctions are all confused, misdiagnosed and therefore, not appropriately treated.
  • The aging generally are not abandoned by their families; in fact, families provide about 80% of older peoples’ needs.
  • Both aging and their families may suffer stress and experience guilt when caregiving roles are reversed. However, some but not enough quality help is available.
  • Since 1936, The Washington School of Psychiatry, located at 5028 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, has established a long and outstanding record of offering interdisciplinary training and research programs.

    This new training program is directed by Tybe Diamond (ibtybe@aol.com, 202-966-1381 for more information). She is encouraging potential mental health professionals interested in expanding or learning new skills in working with the aging population to apply to the training program scheduled to begin this September.

    Iona Senior Services, 4125 Albemarle St.

    The role of Iona Senior Services in this program will be to provide a liaison to serve on the steering committee and serve as a faculty member of the program, and to host special events scheduled during the academic year (several of which will be opened to the public) that will offer WSP students the opportunity to experience such therapeutic approaches as art therapy, dance/movement therapy, journaling and psychodrama.

    This collaboration will be enormously important in shaping the program and bringing resources to the WSP students and the community. To find out more about this collaboration, William Amt at Iona can be contacted at 202-895-9424 and bamt@iona.org.

    Advertisement

    Over the next year, the WSP and Iona House will inform the Forest Hills Connection of the many special events that it is planning for its students and for the general public. They anticipate that these films, lectures, and demonstrations, will be of great interest to the Forest Hills community.

    Forest Hills Connection is produced by volunteers, and supported by you. We appreciate your support – financial and otherwise. Here’s how to donate.

    Filed Under: News, Services

    About Forest Hills Connection

  • Who we are
  • How to advertise
  • How to donate
  • How to submit a story idea
  • Contact us
  • Tweets by foresthillsnews

    Subscribe to Our Blog

    Receive an email alert whenever we publish a new article.

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Arrives in your inbox around mid-month.


    Newsletter Archive         

    Connect With Us!

    Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on RSS

    Local Links

    • Schools, Services and More
    • Restaurants

    Latest Comments

    • Roberta Carroll on DDOT recommends dropping two concepts from Connecticut Ave. reversible lanes and bike lanes study
    • (Ms.) Tucker Harris on Meet the leader of the team that’s been working to clear Broad Branch Stream of invasive plants and protect the natives
    • Evi on At the Broad Branch and Linnean streams, beauty in the cold
    • Gawain Kripke on At the Broad Branch and Linnean streams, beauty in the cold
    • FHC on At the Broad Branch and Linnean streams, beauty in the cold

    Archives

    About Forest Hills Connection | About Forest Hills Neighborhood Alliance | Who We Are | Contributors
    Submissions Policy | Contact | Advertise | Donate
    © Forest Hills Connection | Site by: VanStudios