Geriatric Adult Mental Health Specialty Teams (GAST)

Therapeutic Alternatives, Inc. provides Geriatric Adult Mental Health Specialty Team services (GAST) in 45 counties in North Carolina through contracts with four Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).

These MCOs are:

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• Cardinal Innovations

• Eastpointe

• Sandhills Center

• Trillium Health Resources

Each team minimally consists of a Registered Nurse, Master Level Clinician and Qualified Professional.

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These teams have developed an extensive list of training modules to address different aspects of adult and geriatric mental health care. The teams continuously travel throughout North Carolina and provide training to direct care staff of adult care/assisted living facilities, family care homes, skilled nursing homes and within the community. The GAST teams provide education about the needs of older adults with mental illness to community agencies such as local NAMI organizations, senior centers, nutrition sites supported by local Area Agencies on Aging, health departments and other invested community groups.

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The trainings provided by GAST staff are free of charge to facilities and community agencies. Continuing education is provided with certificates of attendance.