McLean Hospital, a member of Mass General Brigham, and Rippl Care have joined forces to address the urgent mental health needs of seniors, particularly those living with dementia, and their family caregivers.

The collaboration will focus on the creation of a dementia training programme.

Under the terms of this partnership, McLean Hospital will offer consultation and advisory services to Rippl Care to enhance the professional education and training of licensed care professionals and community health workers.

The training will be housed in Rippl Academy and focus on expertise and research-based practices, increasing access to mental healthcare for seniors, and promoting health equity.

McLean Hospital president and psychiatrist in chief Scott Rauch said: “This project aligns closely with McLean’s fundamental mission to provide compassionate expert mental health care to communities in great need.

“Working closely with Rippl to share McLean’s research and clinical expertise in senior mental health provides a unique opportunity to target the major gaps that exist in mental health care for this underserved population.”

The goal of this partnership is to reduce emergency visits and inpatient admissions related to mental health crises experienced by seniors, which can be emotionally disruptive for both patients and their families.

This effort is said to be crucial as the number of Americans aged 65 and older living with dementia is expected to double by 2060, with nearly 6.7 million currently affected.

Together, Rippl Care and McLean Hospital seek to address the healthcare challenge of preparing a workforce to care for the growing population of seniors dealing with dementia and related conditions.Top of Form

This proactive approach aims to improve the overall quality of life for this vulnerable population and alleviate strain on the healthcare system, as dementia patients currently account for more than 1.4 million annual ER visits.