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Improving the United States' System of Care for Older Adults With Mental Illness

Findings and Recommendations for The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health

Received May 28, 2003; revised June 30, 2003; accepted July 1, 2003. From Aging Services Research, New Hampshire–Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, and the Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire. Address correspondence to Stephen Bartels, M.D., M.S., New Hampshire–Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, 2 Whipple Place, Suite 202, Lebanon, NH 03766. e-mail: stephen.j.bartels{at}dartmouth.edu

ABSTRACT

The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health was created to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the nation's mental health service delivery system, to identify unmet needs and barriers to services, and to provide recommendations on methods for improving the mental health system. A health policy analysis was prepared for the Commission examining the organization, delivery, and financing of mental health services for older Americans. The author identified three healthcare themes, including 1) access and continuity of services; 2) quality; and 3) workforce and caregiver capacity. From among these areas, 10 policy issues and recommendations were proposed.

Key Words: Healthcare Services Use