Traumatic Brain Injury and Mental Illness Among Older Adults
Each year, an estimated 40 million older Americans experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Older adults who suffer from a TBI are at an increased risk for developing mental health disorders, such as major depression and panic disorder. This session will explore how TBIs impact older adults and their mental health.
Eligible for 1 CEU with live participation
Michael Hall, PhD, LCP
Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Virginia Commonwealth University
Michael J. Hall, Ph.D. completed his doctoral training in clinical psychology at Kent State University and a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at Harvard Medical School. He previously worked in the Department of Veteran Affairs for 16 years, He is currently serves as a Neuropsychologist, Licensed Psychologist, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the School of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University. His clinical focus includes neuropsychological assessment, psychological evaluation, and psychotherapy with a particular focus on rehabilitation. His clinical and research focus is on traumatic and acquired brain injury, mental health problems to include posttraumatic stress disorder, polytrauma in Veterans and Civilians, effects of aging/neurodegenerative disorders, and COVID-19 Long Haul. Interests also include advocacy, public policy and clinical training.
Maria Crowley, MA, CRC
Director of Professional Development
NASHIA
Ken Collins
Person with Brain Injury, Advocate, Executive Director
Hozho Center for Personal Enhancement
Ken Collins has lived with his brain injury for 46 years and has worked with people with brain injuries to live independently since 1983: http://www.educationviews.org/... He is an advocate of developing the home and community-based services for people with brain injuries.
In 1986-88 he was a VISTA Volunteer and helped develop the first independent living program for people with brain injuries in the U.S. http://www.sheltercare.org/201... Ken has participated in indigenous healing practices in the treatment of brain injury (Sweat Lodge and Hogan Ceremonies) and promotes the use of mindfulness-based stress reduction, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping, Tai Chi, Yoga for successful integration with western medicine to control anger and other consequences stress and anxiety triggers within the limbic system fight or flight response.
Ken has conducted national webinars on using mindfulness-based therapies, meditation, exercise and nutrition to assist in the brain injury recovery process: http://www.biausa.org/educatio... Ken also organized Elders First! to develop elder day services (adult day care) for frail Navajo elders at senior centers on the Navajo Nation. These efforts were supported by two small grants to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and New Mexico Governor's Commission on Disability for Elders First! to fund focus groups and develop an Elders First! DVD to help educate chapter officials about elder day services at senior centers The DVD was distributed to key legislative leaders in the Navajo Nation, Navajo Area Agency on Aging (NAAA), and Eastern Agency of the NAAA. Ken also played a leadership role in the passage of the Vulnerable Adult Protection Act "Doris Act” on the Navajo Nation. This legislation was passed by the Navajo Tribal Council on January 24, 2012, and was signed into law in February 2012 by Navajo Nation President, Ben Shelly.
Ken was elected Chair of the New Mexico State-wide Independent Living Council (NMSILC) in 2014-2016 and is currently an NMSILC member. Ken is employed as the Executive Director of Hozho Center for Personal Enhancement a peer-run wellness center in Gallup, New Mexico.
Donna Bethge (Moderator)
Aging Services Program Specialist
Administration for Community Living
Donna Bethge is an Aging Services Program Specialist in the Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs at the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Aging. She serves as the lead for the Falls Prevention grant program and as the Program Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority’s grant. Before joining the team at ACL, Donna worked in the Aging Network in Maryland for 10 years with Area Agencies on Aging and an assisted living community, developing and implementing programs for older adults, as well as supporting and promoting evidence-based programs. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Northern Kentucky University.