Access to public mental health services among older adults with severe mental illness

Limited data are available on how older adults access public mental health systems. This study examines how uninsured or publicly insured older adults with severe mental illness in San Diego County initially accessed the public mental health system, as well as their subsequent use of public mental health services, as compared to younger adults.

Data from San Diego County, 2002-2006, were used to examine how older adults initially accessed the public mental health system, and their utilization over the subsequent 90 days. Multivariate regression models were used to control for demographic and clinical characteristics.

Older adults (age 60 +) were more likely to access the public mental health system through the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT), a combined law-enforcement and psychiatric service that responds to psychiatric related 911 calls. Older adults were also less likely to receive follow-up care. This lower rate of follow-up was due to both the initial site of service--and an associated lower rate of follow-up among PERT clients--as well as a lower rate of follow-up among older adult clients initiating services in other sectors.

This paper suggests two areas for intervention that would improve access to care for older adults: improving linkages and referrals between PERT and outpatient providers; and additional efforts to retain older adults at outpatient programs.