Community mental health centers and the elderly: a time for expansion of planning, research, and demonstration projects.

The purpose of this paper is to acquaint persons working in Community Mental Health Centers with federal funding resources which support planning, research, and demonstration projects related to mental health and aging. The significance of exploration by CMHCs into the aging area is suggested by the legislative histories of CMHCs and aging programs, our expanding aging population which requires increasing health and mental health services, and the growing number of resources available for the development of services related to aging. Principal funding sources related to mental health and aging are: Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration, National Institutes of Health; Administration on Aging; and Health Care Financing Administration. Each funding source is presented through a review of five key items: 1) name of program; 2) objectives; 3) funds awarded; 4) legislative mandate; and 5) contact person and address. Program areas for each funding source are discussed. Knowledge of these funding resources should enable CMHCs to plan services and to expand capabilities to serve the growing over-60 population.