Older Adult Clinical Services Mental Health Program
Older Adult Clinical Services Mental Health Program
The Older Adult Clinical Team provides comprehensive mental health services to City of Alexandria residents over age 65* in a manner that promotes quality of life and preserves independence. The team meets older adults where they are, at home and in other community settings, to provide intensive mental health services. Services include consultation and assessment, individual and family therapy, mental health case management, outreach, community education and support to caregivers.
Program Description Older Adult Clinical Services
Geriatric Mental Health Program Eligibility
Geriatric Mental Health Program Referral Process and Triage
Referrals
The individual must present with symptoms of a mental health need or need for mental health evaluation and be age 65 or older, (unless functionally geriatric), and reside in the City of Alexandria.
Persons or family members with a question or concern about an older adult that may need assistance or assessment, call 703.746.3573.
In case of a Mental Health Emergency call 703.746.3401 and ask to speak to Emergency Services (24 hours).
Functionally Geriatric
Functionally geriatric individuals will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Functionally geriatric refers to persons who are biologically not age 65 or over, but present with the following:
- The comorbidity of chronic conditions, and /or geriatric syndromes and the frailty of older adults combined with reduced adaptivity that affects the capacity to perform "individual activities of daily living" or "activities of daily living".
Common geriatric syndromes include: frailty, failure to thrive, osteopenia, sarcopenia, falls and gait disturbance, incontinence, cognitive impairment and chronic depression.
Predictors of successful aging are (1) avoiding disease and disability, (2) maintaining physical and mental function and (3) continued engagement with other persons in productive activities.