Traumatic Brain Injury and Mental Illness Among Older Adults

4.6 (40 votes)

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

Maria plans and coordinates a spectrum of programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of the brain injury community, focusing on state government needs. She is also serves as a primary consultant for the TBI Technical Assistance and Resource Center, funded by the Administration for Community Living, supporting State TBI grantees and other stakeholders. She has worked in the disabilities field with state government for 34 years, and specifically in brain injury since 2000, to help individuals with disabilities reach their maximum potential in home, community, and employment. Maria was the State Head Injury Program Director for the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), designated lead agency in Alabama for traumatic brain injury (TBI) services, for 14 years. She continues to conduct a wealth of training issues related to traumatic brain injury, rehabilitation, employment, concussion management, intimate partner violence, service coordination and trauma/surveillance registries within business, state government, nonprofits and partner organizations.

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.

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05/11/2023 at 11:15 AM (EDT)  |  Recorded On: 05/17/2023
05/11/2023 at 11:15 AM (EDT)  |  Recorded On: 05/17/2023