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Specialized Information for:
Nursing HomesAssisted Living/Board & Care Home and Community Based Services
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Specialized Information for:
Nursing HomesAssisted Living/Board & Care Home and Community Based Services
Resources for Supporting Nursing Facility Residents with Mental and/or Behavioral Health Needs (November 2023)
Webinar Materials:
LTCOP Reference Guide: Working With Individuals With Mental Health Conditions (December 2018)
This reference guide provides an overview of the topic, foundation points for Ombudsman program practices, key resources for more in-depth knowledge and to improve ombudsman skills.
Advocating for Residents with Mental Health Needs: What to do When a Resident Threatens to Harm Themselves (December 2018)
View the slides as a PDF.
Illinois LTCOP Response When Residents Threaten Suicide
This webinar discussed Ombudsman program advocacy for residents with mental health needs and how to respond when residents threaten to harm themselves.
Dr. Patrick Arbore, a nationally recognized expert in the field of elderly suicide prevention and grief services, has devoted is his life to increasing awareness of isolation, loneliness, and depression in older adults. Dr. Arbore shared warning signs, ways to promote better-informed and healthier communities, and resources and supports for Ombudsmen and residents suffering from inner loneliness, sorrow, stress, and anxiety.
Following Dr. Arbore’s presentation Jamie Freschi, Illinois State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, shared her program’s policies, procedures, and tool that guides the program in responding to residents that talk about committing suicide.
The webinar concluded with a presentation from Natasha Belli, an Illinois program representative, who shared her experience working with a resident that has threatened suicide and the steps she took to support the resident.
Advocating for Residents With Mental Health Needs: Engaging and Changing the System (June 2009)
This session summary and resource guide was prepared by Sara Hunt, MSSW, and is based on Dr. Susan Wehry's session at the 2008 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Conference. The purpose of this guide is to inform Ombudsman program advocacy and provide a list of resources that may be useful in teaching ombudsmen and caregivers and in advocating for individuals and for systems change.
Advocating for Residents With Mental Health Conditions Webinar PowerPoint (September 2009)
In September 2009, the Center hosted a webinar with Dr. Susan Wehry on advocating for residents with mental health conditions.
Ask Dr. Susan Wehry Conference Call (September 2010)
On Thursday, September 16, 2010, the Center hosted a call with Dr. Susan Wehry titled "Ask Dr. Wehry." Dr. Wehry is an expert in the area of mental health and has produced several documents for the long-term care ombudsman program. On this call, Dr. Wehry answered questions from ombudsmen about working with residents with mental health challenges.
Promoting Emotional Health and Preventing Suicide - A Toolkit for Senior Living Communities
This toolkit, produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), equips senior living staff with resources to promote mental health and prevent suicide and encourage active participation among residents. Includes guidelines for integrating suicide prevention into ongoing programs, hands-on tools, and training manuals.
View Ombudsman program examples on mental health/mental illness
New York
Mental Health Ombudsman Training Manual
The following slide presentations come from a training manual that was developed in 2004 for the NY Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program by Dr. Susan Wehry, Associate Professor, University of Vermont College of Medicine. The goals of the training curriculum are to increase ombudsman comfort level in working with residents living in adult homes with mental health needs and to increase ombudsman ability to effectively advocate for these residents.