| Each year, approximately 10,000 baby boomers will reach age 65. The baby boomer generation encompasses 26% of the total U.S. Population. As members of the baby boomer generation reach older adulthood, they continue to experience mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, as well as medication and alcohol abuse. These mental health conditions are associated with higher rates of health care usage. In addition, an older adult may jointly suffer from a lower quality of life, increased complex illnesses, disability, and mortality/increased risk of suicide. If an older adult does not have the appropriate mental health support services, he or she may overuse the healthcare system. Obtaining mental health services is still considered taboo for some, while for others the services may not be accessible. Conversations from Home Telemental Health aims to employ innovative technology in telehealth to improve mental health delivery services for the baby boomer population. Its mission is to provide accessible and effective evidence-based therapy designed to engage baby boomers, address their mental health needs, and minimalize premature institutionalization. Conversations from Home's goal as a non-profit organization is to become a leading provider of telemental health services to individuals aged 50 and older in the Westside of Los Angeles and the South Bay. This proposal will provide a detailed evaluation of how Conversations from Home will accomplish these objectives. |
