Milford Regional to Offer Senior Mental Health Seminars

UMass Memorial Health – Milford Regional Medical Center’s Community Benefits Committee is offering a free community webinar series focusing on senior mental health.

This two-part series is presented as part of Milford Regional’s “Opening Doors to Mental Health” community webinars and will feature board-certified Geropsychologist Kelly O’Malley, PhD, ABPP, FGSA, and UMMH - Milford Regional Manager of Behavioral Health and Addiction Services Lisa Shaw, MSN, PMHNP-BC. UMMH - Milford Regional Chief Operating Officer Bert Thurlo-Walsh, MM, RN, CPHQ, will moderate.

The first webinar, “Mental Health Causes and Effects of Social Isolation and Hoarding Disorder,” will take place on Wednesday, October 14, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about hoarding disorder in older adults and discover practical ways to reduce social isolation, how to talk with an older adult about their social needs and ways to help them engage in social activities.

The second webinar, “Ways to Approach Difficult/Sensitive Topics With Older Adult Family Members,” will take place on Wednesday, October 21, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will discover ways to avoid unproductive conversations and learn practical approaches for effective communication.

Both webinars will include dedicated time for participants’ questions as well as information on available resources.

“Mental health is an essential part of overall health at every stage of life, yet many older adults face challenges such as social isolation, anxiety, depression and difficulty navigating important life conversations,” said Milford Regional COO Bert Thurlo-Walsh. “Through this webinar series, we hope to provide caregivers and family members with practical tools, expert guidance and access to resources that can help improve their loved one’s well-being.”

To register, visit ummhealth.org/milford-regional, scroll toward the bottom of the homepage and go to “View All Events.” For questions, contact UMMH – Milford Regional Community Benefits Manager Michelle Sanford at 508-422-2827 or Michelle.sanford@umassmemorial.org.

[photo by Chalmers Butterfield]