Plans are underway to hold a second forum.
This report describes the advocacy forum and discusses its recommendations and possible next steps to enhance the quality of life for older adult mental health care consumers. The purpose of the older adults advocacy forum was to explore how the quality of life of older adults with mental health needs might be substantially improved through consumer advocacy. The project was staffed by Robert Bernstein, Executive Director of the Bazelon Center, and Linda Priebe, a Bazelon Center Senior Staff Attorney. The project was conducted in collaboration with Carol Cober of AARP, as well as with a steering committee of experts in the field of mental health advocacy as it relates to older adults. The forum was designed to give older adult mental health care consumers the opportunity to draw their own conclusions about advocacy needs and strategies at the national level.