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​​ISSUE BRIEF:  Older Adults
​Increasing mental/behavioral health access and engagement

A dramatic increase in CA’s older adult population has begun, with a projected 80.8% increase from 2010—2030.* The state and local communities must scale and roll-out evidence-based mental/behavioral health offerings to address the needs of older adults.

Local Solutions

Evidence-Based Practices:
Examples: PEARLS & IDEAS programs

Outreach: Increase outreach and engagement.
 
Planning should include input from older adults, such as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA): 
https://aging.ca.gov/Find_Services_In_My_County/
 
Workforce/Training

• Fund MHSA WET programs.
• Geriatric Training — 6-month pro-grams for Mental Health providers.  Example: SDSU
• Mental Health First Aid Training for professionals and volunteers who work with Older Adults (such as Meals on Wheels, Community Centers, Residential and Hospice Care.)
• Peer Specialists offer experience-based support. Examples: Pool of Consumer Champions; Alliance on Aging Peer Counseling

Training in older adult suicide screening and differential diagnosis of SMI and dementia.

Statewide Solutions

 Mental Health Data should include age-specific:

• Performance Outcome Data
• Service Penetration Rates for seniors

 
Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly        (RCFE): Address the “Board & Care” Shortage--Issue Paper
 
Workforce issues to address:

• Workforce Shortage—Fund MHSA WET 5-Year Plan
• Training statewide to include MH/BH,  Geriatric & Peer Specialist Certification
• Medi-Care Access: 43% of psychiatrists do not take Medi-Care.

 
More at: calbhbc.org/workforce

 The Statistics*

​Mental illness impacts one in four older adults.

• Suicide rate for males 85+ is more than 4 X higher than national rate.
• Depression:

Nationally 15-20 percent of older adults have experienced depression.

• Anxiety Disorders:  Approximately 11 percent of older adults have     anxiety disorders.
• Alcohol & Drugs:  16% of older adults are estimated to be alcoholic or at risk. 25% of senior emergency room visits in 2012 involved narcotic and nonnarcotic pain relievers.
• 50% of depression care is provided in the primary care setting.
• 50% of patients with mental illness only have contact with their primary care physician.
• 66% of people who commit suicide had contact with a primary care physician in month prior to death.

*Sources: CA DOF, SAMHSA & UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
 
More at: www.calbhbc.org/seniors