Making Geriatric Behavioral Health a Top Priority
The senior population has historically been underserved where behavioral health is concerned. The healthcare system has not given priority to geriatric behavioral health. Fortunately, we have the power to change this.
Geriatric behavioral health programs are one of the many programs we focus on with both our mental health consulting and mental health management services. We help healthcare providers establish and maintain geriatric behavioral health programs that achieve measurable results. We can help your organization develop a new geriatric program or improve an existing one.
An aging population needs geriatric care
A report from the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved estimates that the number of seniors in the U.S. will reach approximately 95 million by 2060. Right now, the number stands closer to 52 million. Every one of those 52 million seniors is at risk for developing behavioral health issues.
Not focusing on geriatric behavioral health will only have negative consequences. Among them is high suicide rates. According to the report, seniors currently have the highest suicide completion rate of any of the surveyed age groups.
- Suicide success rate across the entire population is 1%.
- Suicide success rate among seniors is 25%.
- Though seniors make up about 16% of the population, they account for 20% of suicides.
It’s clear that our senior population is in the midst of a behavioral health crisis. If geriatric behavioral health has not been a priority for your organization, now is the time to reevaluate your priorities. Mental health providers from coast-to-coast need to recommit to their geriatric programs.
How to create successful geriatric services
Implementing successful geriatric programs is never easy. And even with existing programs in place, it can be difficult to convince senior patients to take advantage of them. Unfortunately, there are significant barriers that tend to hold senior patients back, including:
- Misinformation – Healthcare is rife with misinformation. Patients can research behavioral health issues on their own utilizing the internet, and come across all sorts of information that is simply not true. They are not helped by misinformation.
- Misconceptions – It is not unusual for seniors to hold to certain misconceptions about aging. They are quick to believe that what they might be experiencing is normal with age. They might not believe that their issues can or should be treated.
- Stigma – There’s an unspoken stigma attached to behavioral health in general. Geriatric behavioral health is not exempt. Unfortunately, the stigma of mental health problems is powerful enough to keep seniors from seeking care.
Overcoming these barriers is a matter of educating seniors, building strong relationships with them, and encouraging them to seek help through a variety of programs and services. When they do seek help, we have to offer them programs and services that actually work.
People are living longer
Significant advances in physical and mental health over the last several decades are helping people live longer. The longer we all live, the longer we will need access to healthcare services – including behavioral health. We take the position that age should not be a barrier to receiving behavioral health care.
Geriatric behavioral health has not been a top priority for our healthcare system in recent years. We need to begin working on changing that. The senior population has significant and legitimate mental health needs that deserve to be met. We owe it to them to do everything we can to help.
Horizon Health Behavioral Health Solutions
Horizon Health partners with hospitals and other behavioral healthcare facilities. We provide effective staffing solutions, clinical resources, community education and regulatory compliance. Call 800-727-2407 or complete the online interest form to learn more.
