THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 9, 2024 Page 7 MVES awarded grant to ease behavioral health crisis T he aging population in Massachusetts is increasing while at the same time the number of older adults with behavioral health problems is rising. Massachusetts is not alone – U.S. officials have described older Americans as facing a behavioral health crisis. As part of its ongoing efforts to support emotional well-being during the aging journey, Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES) was awarded a $150,000 grant from the state’s Behavioral Health Outreach for Aging Populations (BHOAP) program. “Behavioral health conditions skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those issues didn’t simply vanish when quarantine was lifted, especially for our community’s aging population, who are more likely to remain socially isolated,” observed MVES CEO Lisa Gurgone. “We’re proud to receive the BHOAP grant, which will help our team support those who are in critical need of care.” Central to the behavioral health crisis is the need for treatment. While an estimated one in four older Americans has a behavioral health condition not associated with normal aging, less than 33 percent of this NEW LAW | FROM PAGE 4 Murphy, who became the first woman in Massachusetts to hold a constitutional office while serving under Governor Michael Dukakis (1987 to 1991), is now co-chair of the Wage Equity Now Coalition. “Gender and racial wage gaps are real,” Murphy said in a statement. “They cause wealth gaps. With this legislation, Massachusetts claims lead position in building economic prosperity through equitable treatment of every worker.” The legislation requires public and private employers with 25 or more employees to disclose pay ranges in job postings, provide the pay range of a position to an employee who is offered a promotion or transfer and, on request, provide the pay range to employees who already hold that position or are applying for it. The Attorney General’s Office will conduct a public awareness campaign on these new rules. The Attorney General’s Office will also be given enforcement authority and the ability to impose fines or civil citations for violations of this law, and employees will receive protections against repopulation receives services to address their diagnosis. Within Massachusetts, BHOAP aims to address this problem. More than half of those enrolled in home care programs at MVES reported having a behavioral health diagnosis, and MVES has identified an increase in diagnoses over the past decade. The BHOAP grant enables MVES to build on its existing outreach efforts and work to overcome barriers to care, including: • Coping with other chronic illnesses and physical frailty • Transportation limitations • Cost of care • Social isolation • Technological barriers • Cultural differences in approaches to behavioral care • Societal and/or generational stigma “Stigma is a major obstacle to any individual receiving treatment, but it can be a barrier that’s especially difficult for the aging population,” explained MVES Director of Clinical Services Lisa Felci Jimenez. “People dismiss these issues by saying, you’re just lonely or you just worry too much. Part of our team’s mission is to overcome these misconceptions and entaliation for asking for salary ranges when applying for a job or promotion. The legislation also requires public and private employers with 100 or more employees to submit wage data reports to the state, which will then be published through aggregate wage reports by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. sure people receive the care they need. Depression and anxiety are not an inevitable part of the aging process.” MVES has provided access to behavioral health services through its Complex Care team since 2005. The BHOAP grant empowers MVES to expand its Complex Care team and better serve the aging population in its service area, which includes Everett, Malden, Revere and eight other communities. The Complex Care team focuses on increasing access to home- and community-based counseling to address a wide range of issues, including hoarding, depression, anxiety, adjustment to loss, substance abuse and more. They develop a personalized plan for each individual, connecting them to the care they need and monitoring each case over time. By working closely with other departments at MVES, the team ensures the individual receives any other support they need, such as transportation assistance or social engagement. The Complex Care team also offers bilingual support and works to build awareness and partnership throughout the community. (Editor’s Note: Janice Jarosz, a lifelong Saugus resident, former town official, writer and frequent contributor to The Saugus Advocate, attended last week’s bill signing ceremony for the new wage equity law as a guest of former Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Murphy, who is also a first cousin of Jarosz.) “Our team ensures health providers and community organizations are aware that MVES offers a range of services to support aging and that behavioral health is a key part of our offerings,” explained MVES Complex Care Team Manager Jennifer Shacklewood. “We want to improve that 33 percent of older adults who are receiving the treatment they need. 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