Overview of Mental Illness Care

Objectives: Define mental illness. Identify common mental illnesses in older adults. Describe treatment options for older adults with mental illnesses. Determine strategies for managing the behaviors of older adults with mental illness.

Description: This class will teach caregivers the basics of mental illness in older adults. Caregivers will learn to identify common mental illnesses, their causes, and common treatments. Caregivers will also learn strategies for coping with the challenging behaviors of older adults with mental illnesses, and what to do if those behaviors become inappropriate.