About BRIDGES: Supporting Older Adult Behavioral Health
BRIDGES for Older Adults stands for Behavioral Health Resources for Integrated Development, Growth, Engagement, and Support.
BRIDGES provides practical training, tools, and resources for professionals who work with older adults. The project helps them recognize behavioral health concerns, respond in supportive ways, and connect older adults to resources that can support mental well-being, chronic disease management, and overall quality of life.
Why BRIDGES Exists
BRIDGES for Older Adults helps professionals who work with older adults recognize behavioral health concerns, respond with care, and connect people to the right supports.
Many older adults living with chronic conditions also experience depression, anxiety, substance use concerns, stress, grief, isolation, or other behavioral health challenges. These concerns can affect participation in programs, chronic disease management, daily routines, and overall well-being.
BRIDGES provides practical training and tools to support earlier help, stronger engagement, and better whole-person health for older adults.
Closing the Gap: Equipping Professionals to Support Older Adults’ Behavioral Health
LECOM Health integrates behavioral health and geriatric expertise to:
Conduct Comprehensive Environmental Scans and Needs Assessments
Identify barriers and best practices to tailor effective solutions and engagement strategies for older adults with behavioral health conditions.
Develop and Implement a National Training Program
Equip professionals who serve older adults through accessible online trainings and toolkits, improving early recognition, response, and referrals for behavioral health care.
Provide Resources and Technical Assistance
Deliver practical guidance, an expanding online resource center, and awareness/outreach campaigns to support recognition, response, and referral for behavioral health needs in older adults.
Recognize, Respond, Refer
BRIDGES for Older Adults helps organizations support older adult wellness through three simple actions:
Recognize
Notice signs of behavioral health concerns, including depression, anxiety, substance use concerns, grief, stress, and isolation.
Respond
Use practical, person-centered tools to offer support with care, confidence, and respect.
Refer
Connect older adults to behavioral health services, community-based programs, chronic disease education, and other helpful supports.
Through research, training, and resources, BRIDGES works to reduce stigma, remove barriers, and help older adults get connected to support sooner.
Meet the BRIDGES for Older Adults Leadership Team
Danielle Hansen, DO, MS (MedEd), MHSA
Project Director
Regional President - LECOM Health
Jeffrey M. Natalie, LCSW
Grant Liaison
Regional Director – Business & Workforce Development for Behavioral Health
Brian Hillen
Project Coordinator
Special Projects Coordinator - LECOM Behavioral Health
Craig Stevens, MA, MT-BC, NMT
Training Director
Training Director - LECOM Behavioral Health
Lisa Fickenworth, MBA
Compliance Director
Chief Quality and Compliance Director - LECOM Behavioral Health
Jaime Babiak, PharmD, MHSA, NHA
Technical Assistance Center Director
Vice President of Operations, Director of Pharmacy - LECOM Institute for Successful Aging
Ellen Kehl, MPA, CNP
Marketing Director
Director of Marketing and Development - LECOM Behavioral Health
Brandon Boyd, MS
Outreach Director
Director of Public Relations and Community Outreach - LECOM Behavioral Health
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This website is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $3,260,699 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.