Enhanced skills training and health care management for older persons with severe mental illness

This report describes a combined skills training (ST) and health management (HM) intervention for older adults with severe mental illness (SMI) and one-year pilot study outcomes. Findings are reported for twelve older persons with SMI (age 60+) who received ST+HM and twelve who received only HM. ST addressed interpersonal and independent living skills. HM included promotion of preventive health care. ST+HM was associated with improved social functioning and independent living skills, whereas functioning remained constant or declined for the HM only group. Both groups receiving HM demonstrated increased use of preventive health services and identification of previously undetected medical disorders.