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Instructor/Advisor

Allison Higgins

Keywords

Mental health services, long term care, senior population

Abstract

Due to life expectancy being prolonged and birth rates declining, the older adult population is growing rapidly. Along with this growth, mental health concerns are becoming more widespread which in turn creates a heightened need for long term care (LTC) and its services. However, evidence suggests that LTC facilities are not adequately meeting the needs of this population concerning quality mental health care.

This project, in the form of a needs assessment, explores the importance and reform of on-site mental health services in LTC facilities. This assessment will be evaluating the need for interventions in the mental health workforce, state and federal policies and in LTC facilities in order to implement mental health services on-site. To collect the information needed, three key informant interviews were conducted with professionals in the LTC and mental health industries as well as secondary data from various research databases including peer-reviewed articles and MA and federal legal research databases.

Conclusions can be drawn that the lack of on-site mental health services is a multi-faceted problem that stems from workforce challenges, health policies and the perceptions of mental health that the senior population has that is ultimately resulting in several barriers for on-site mental health services to be implemented. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to bring awareness and advocate for this pressing issue now in order to protect current and future residents in LTC so that they can prosper and reach their full potential in health and wellbeing.

The Importance and Reform of On-Site Mental Health Services in Long Term Care

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