The PSU-OHSU Oregon Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health & Aging (OCEBHA) has been awarded a three-year, $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Administration on Community Living (ACL). The funding will launch a statewide chronic disease self-management education program tailored for older adults navigating behavioral health challenges, specifically depression and substance use disorders.
“The Institute on Aging has been selected as one of only four centers nationally to lead a landmark three-year initiative supporting the behavioral health of older adults statewide,” said Paula Carder, director of the Institute on Aging at PSU. “In collaboration with our key partners, this project will expand access to behavioral health services and equip a new generation of professionals with evidence-based health promotion strategies to serve our aging population.”
Building on existing state-funded initiatives, the project team — which includes faculty and staff from PSU’s Institute on Aging, PSU’s Regional Research Institute, OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, and OHSU School of Medicine — will deploy two evidence-based interventions: the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS).
The program will begin delivering these interventions to empower participants to improve their mental wellbeing by developing problem-solving skills, engaging in activities and adopting vital coping strategies. The statewide program will specifically address major life stressors, such as the onset of a chronic condition or disability, or a sudden change in housing status.
Crucially, the program will be delivered directly to older adults, in spaces including local senior centers and licensed long-term care communities like assisted living and adult foster homes across the state.
“I am thrilled that PSU-OCEBHA was awarded the ACL grant to improve access to evidence-based behavioral health care for older adults through the use of PEARLS and WRAP,” said Nirmala Dhar, older adult behavioral health lead strategist with the Oregon Health Authority. “What is unique is that these programs will be offered in community-based settings where older adults either live or gather — thus making evidence-based care accessible and low barrier. This grant will also expand and promote a qualified workforce that is trained and capable of providing care in community settings.”
To execute the statewide rollout, OCEBHA is working with 17 confirmed key partners, including aging networks, quality improvement organizations and professional providers.
"This award will allow our team to build on our existing work to support the behavioral health of older adults across Oregon," said Walt Dawson, project director and associate professor of neurology in the OHSU School of Medicine. "In partnership with these multiple community organizations, we’ll develop this new program to directly support and empower older adult wellbeing."
By integrating these interventions into existing community infrastructures, the grant not only provides immediate support but also creates a scalable model for the future of elder care.
“This award from the Administration on Community Living will not only support older adults who are living with behavioral health needs, but is an opportunity to develop the workforce in Oregon that is dedicated to the behavioral health of this overlooked population,” said Robyn Stone, senior vice president of research at LeadingAge and co-director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston. “The inclusion of PEARLS within assisted living communities — especially residents who are receiving Medicaid-funded care and support — is an evidence-based approach to addressing depression within residents of licensed communities and affordable senior housing. OCEBHA’s scaling of PEARLS in Oregon will provide a roadmap to expand this approach beyond Oregon.”