On National Caregivers Day, Vaya Health highlights its team that serves caregivers by providing free on-site and web-based education and support related to the behavioral health needs of older adults. Vaya’s team, the Geriatric Adult Mental Health Specialty Team (GAMHST), offers educational courses for professional caregiving staff, family caregivers, community members, and organizations. According to AARP and The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), the number of caregivers has increased by about 9.5 million in five years, from 2015 to 2020. The study also notes that nearly one in five people in the U.S. provide unpaid care to an adult with health or functional needs.
GAMHST support extends to agencies and family caregivers dealing with individuals aged 60 and above experiencing mental health issues, substance use concerns, dementia, or other emotional and behavioral challenges—all at no cost. Comprising registered nurses, licensed clinicians, and qualified mental health professionals, GAMHST offers educational contact hours approved by the NC Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR). These contact hours create opportunities for Adult Care Home Administrators to receive continuing education to support their licensure.
“Caregivers are essential to the lives and success of so many of our members at Vaya. However, it can be an extremely emotional and physically demanding role for those balancing caregiving with other day-to-day activities,” said Terry Spencer, Geriatric Team Manager at Vaya.
“Vaya is pleased to provide tailored resources that work to connect and educate caregivers about programs and support measurements available to them and care recipients,” continued Terry.
GAMHST and the CDC recognize caregiving as a critical public health concern and are educating caregivers about health risks, sharing information about effective programs to reduce stress or financial burden, and giving skills to support the care recipient in maintaining their health and well-being.
All GAMHST courses are evidence-informed and incorporated into a user-friendly format focused on promoting adaptive outcomes. To learn more visit vayahealth.com/get-help/education-training/ or contact Geriatric.Team@vayahealth.com for more information on training.
