HEART

Ensuring Caregiver Success

DMH/DD/SUS has rebranded the Geriatric Adult Specialty Team (GAST) to Health Education and Aging Resource Team (HEART) effective July 1, 2025. The HEART program provides training and consultative services to staff that work with people aged 55 and older with mental health and/or substance use issues. Trainings are provided at no cost to priority community agencies, long-term care facilities and organizations that work with identified populations. As the aging population continues to grow in the state of North Carolina, HEART services have expanded to support many community-based programs and caregivers. 

The Health Education and Aging Resource Team (HEART) provides free professional, high quality in-service education in nursing homes, adult care homes, family care homes, senior centers, home health agencies, adult day cares, adult day health, as well as other community-based organizations.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• Community Agencies
• Long-Term Care Facilities
• Senior Centers
• Home Care Agencies
• Department of Social Services
• Nursing Homes
• Faith-based Organizations
• Law Enforcement
• Emergency Personnel
• Volunteer Organizations
• Domestic Violence Organizations

Therapeutic Alternatives helps caregivers by providing education about mental illness but they do not respond to emergency or crisis situations. They assist groups through:

• Provide training and education that enhances the understanding of mental health, substance use and dementia needs in older adults.
• Ensure caregivers and service providers understand and know how to assess escalating behaviors to prevent psychiatric hospitalizations.
• Offer required trainings and contact hours to Long Term Care staff at no cost.
• Increase the ability of adults living with a mental illness to live successfully in their community with a trained caregiver.