Canadian Standards Association’s Post

7% of residents in long-term care and assisted living settings are younger than 65 years: a significant number of residents in long-term care (LTC) and assisted living (AL) settings are 18 to 64 years old, well below the average resident age of 83 years. Younger residents are more likely to have developmental or severe physical disability, chronic disease, and mental health conditions. The age- and illness-related differences make their #MentalHealth and well-being needs distinct. While the new standard CSA Z2004:24, Mental health and well-being in long-term care (LTC) and assisted living (AL) settings, addresses the needs of residents of all age groups, it also includes recommendations focused on younger residents. The standard https://bit.ly/3xWFXN7 outlines considerations for programming, activities, and relationships that can support the mental health and well-being of younger residents. The standard also highlights innovative practices that can be applied to the care of younger residents.

The healthcare system in Ottawa is facing a critical juncture, exemplified by the struggles of families like those of a 10-year-old girl diagnosed with severe ADHD and learning disabilities. With her family doctor retiring and her medication running low, the quest for continuity of care has been thwarted by a shortage of accessible healthcare providers; no walk-in clinics are willing to prescribe her necessary medication, and finding a new family doctor has proven impossible due to ongoing patient overload. This situation underscores the broader systemic issues plaguing Ontario's healthcare, where inadequate resources, aging healthcare professionals, and a lack of integration in mental health services leave vulnerable children and their families in precarious situations. For the child's well-being and functionality, it is imperative that immediate solutions are found, including addressing the physician shortage and enhancing mental health support systems to ensure that all patients receive timely and appropriate care. #brokenhealthcare #DOCTORSHORTAGE #ottawaontario #PleaseShare

Care-experienced youth often face earlier, severe, and chronic #mentalhealth challenges compared to their peers. Dive into this article by Alex Lau-Zhu and Lydia Vella on the creation of a Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) group for young people with a history of #abuse and #neglect, delivered by psychologists in a social care service. https://ow.ly/gKvl50Qj6J8

Connecticut has a continuum of acute behavioral health services for youth that is consistent with national best practices, but they are at risk to fail until we put into place a sustainable funding approach. A small wireless surcharge -- which is how most states fund 911 -- would generate millions annually to fund these life-saving services for youth. That is already happening in California, Colorado, Delaware, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington (and proposals are being considered in six additional states!). Check out my latest Policy Brief, co-authored with Gary Steck from Wellmore Behavioral Health, to learn more about this option, and a pathway to make it happen! https://lnkd.in/e55sEg2J

Between 2019 and 2023, the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) made a series of reforms to reduce the number of children in congregate care from more than 1,000 to fewer than 400.     In a new case study, Addressing Upstream Factors: Reducing the Number of Michigan Children in Congregate Care, we detail how the MDHHS, with support from the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab, developed and implemented solutions around two upstream points of intervention that contributed to the sustained decline in congregate care:      1 - Strengthen children’s access to high-quality, community-based behavioral health services, which may help to prevent escalating behaviors that can precede placement breakdown and entry to congregate care, and     2 - Increase placements with and supports for kin caregivers, where children experience more stability, fewer placement moves, and better behavioral and mental health outcomes compared with children in non-kin settings.    Read the case study here. https://lnkd.in/ewFBiVkQ 

Whether because of age or disability, California adults who require assistance with day-to-day activities like bathing, getting dressed, or transportation to stores and appointments reported their health as worse overall and experience higher rates of serious psychological distress, according to a new study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Serious psychological distress includes mental health problems severe enough to cause moderate to serious impairment in social, occupational or school functioning, and to require treatment. Using data from the 2019–2020 California Long-Term Services and Supports study, a follow-on survey of the 2019–2020 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the new report offers one of the first looks at the relationship between unmet needs for LTSS, access to health care, and health and well-being outcomes among California adults of all ages who have LTSS needs. “What we learned demonstrates that California must improve how it provides resources for adults who need these types of assistance to live independent and healthy lives,” said Kathryn Kietzman, director of the Health Equity Program at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the study’s lead author. Read the policy brief, fact sheets, and infographic: https://ucla.in/3VS2geC

Care management is crucial in areas such as chronic diseases, mental health issues, maternal and neonatal care, eldercare, and autism support. Our care managers handle all the administrative tasks, allowing healthcare providers to focus on patient care. Serefin not only supports but also: ✓ Educates ✓ Equips ✓ Empowers ✓ Enables We make care management simple and stress-free for patients by handling all the complex details. We also take care of administrative tasks for providers, making the system more efficient for everyone. #Serefin #SerefinCares #HealthcareSupport #SerefinEmpowers

We understand every child is unique and we are committed to providing a program that caters to their specific needs. That’s why we offer both one-on-one sessions and our Neurodivergent Youth Group Program over an 8 week term. Our group sessions of 1:4 ratio of therapist to children provide opportunities for social interaction, communication, cooperation and building valuable peer relationships. Studies consistently show that physical activity plays a pivotal role in improving the lives of neurodivergent children and youth including the physical, mental and social health. Recognizing the pressing need for support, our program is open to children with a current diagnosis and for those who find themselves on lengthy waitlists for diagnoses. We are committed to providing assistance when it’s needed most. https://lnkd.in/g9ZyTp2x #FitnessJourney #StrengthTraining #O2Active #ExercisePhysiology #exercisephysiologist #movementismedicine #O2Active #MoveWithPurpose #EP #Lifestyle #WellnessJourney #ClinicalExcellence #healthandwellness #EvidenceBasedPractice #PatientCareCentered #holistichealth #Rehabilitation #ChronicDiseaseManagement #InjuryRehabilitation #ExercisePhysiology #FunctionalFitness #PhysicalTherapy #MindBodyConnection #CommunityHealth #WellnessJourney #OptimalHealth #LifelongWellBeing #ClientFocused #fitnessforall #teamculture

Yesterday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a new advisory on mental health for parents and caregivers. The report highlights a significant finding: 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming, compared to 26% among other adults. As a pediatric PA in outpatient care, I see the impact of this stress daily. Offering reassurance and grace to parents and caregivers is essential. We must equip them with educational tools and resources because a child cannot thrive if their caregiver or parent isn’t. The role parents play in their children’s lives cannot be overstated. Research shows that children’s mental, emotional, and physical health is closely tied to the well-being of their parents. Stress and mental health challenges in parents can directly influence a child’s development and overall well-being. As healthcare providers, we play a crucial role in supporting parents so that they can, in turn, support their children. The Surgeon General's Advisory offers actionable recommendations on how to support parents and caregivers through policy changes, community programs, and individual actions. Read more about what we can do to support these vital members of our community: @surgeongeneral.gov/parents #pediatricpanicole

More and more reasons why we can't use a "one-size-fits-all" strategy. Addressing #SUD and the underlying social drivers of health needs to include culturally informed best practices, effective data application, and genuine partnership with impacted communities. Check out the brief for more insights on addressing disparities in substance use and substance use disorder. #SDOH #healthequity #culturalhumility #healthdisparities #racialequity https://lnkd.in/gV3xh7b9