Abstract
1. Older individuals in both community and institutional settings have traditionally underused mental health services. Providers of such care devote a minimum of their professional time to those over 65 years of age. 2. Ageism and difficulty with diagnosis are the most frequent explanations for inadequate mental health care to the elderly. This study found that lack of referrals and failure of the aged to seek services partially accounted for underuse. 3. Legislative changes mandating that aged persons be screened for and receive appropriate mental health services will increase the demand for qualified providers. 4. Nursing's approach to care of the older adult, which focuses on both physiological and psychological needs, can facilitate the delivery of comprehensive effective mental health interventions in and out of the institutional setting.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 10-14 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - Feb 1 1991 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Nursing
- Phychiatric Mental Health
