EP: 224 - Mental Health and Dementia Support at Home

The Regional Older Adults Facility Mental Health Support Team (RAFT) in Northern Virginia has been helping older adults with mental illness and dementia remain in their communities for more than a decade. With a multidisciplinary team that includes social workers, counselors, psychiatrists, and nurses, RAFT provides intensive support such as case management, therapy, medication oversight, and caregiver training. The program has achieved a 98% success rate in preventing re-hospitalizations, making it a model for effective, community-based mental health care. In addition to direct services, RAFT offers dementia-specific caregiver support, including education, consultations, respite care, and connections to local resources. These services strengthen family resilience and improve quality of life for both caregivers and older adults. To learn more about RAFT, visit www.raftnorthernvirginia.org.