Homebound older adults face a higher risk for depression than the general population. The good news is depression is a treatable disease.
That’s why Namkee Choi, the Louis and Ann Wolens Centennial Chair in Gerontology at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work has teamed up with Meals on Wheels Central Texas to provide free, short-term, evidence-based treatment for Meals on Wheels clients who are 50 or older.
Mental health counselors will help clients build skills to better manage their depression. Eligible individuals receive one of the following:
- Five sessions of video-conferenced Problem-Solving Therapy
- Five sessions of video-conferenced Self-care Management Support
- Five telephone safety check calls. These clients will receive either Problem Solving Therapy or Self-care Management Support after 6-month waiting period.
All services include in-depth, in-home assessment sessions. No prior computer or internet skills are needed to participate and all necessary video-conferencing equipment will be provided free of charge.
More information here. This telehealth treatment program is funded by the National Institute on Health and the St. David’s Foundation.