Let's Integrate! The Case for Bringing Behavioral Health to Nursing Home-Based Post-Acute and Subacute Care

Behavioral health (BH) concerns are prevalent among residents (eg, depression, anxiety, and insomnia), family care partners (eg, depression and burden), and staff (eg, burnout and depression) in nursing home-based post-acute and subacute care, referred to as skilled nursing facility (SNF) care. When untreated, BH concerns can lead to negative care outcomes, including limited functional improvements, longer lengths of stay, and elevated risk of rehospitalization and mortality. Despite the high clinical need, the field lacks evidence and consensus regarding an optimal model of BH services and roles for BH clinicians in SNFs. Developing such a model can inform the testing of BH interventions that best align with clinical operations, moving the field toward answering questions regarding the effectiveness and implementation of BH services in SNFs. Evidence-based BH models from the primary care literature include coordinated, colocated, and integrated care, each of which present potential benefits and challenges for the SNF setting. In this special article, we argue that an integrated model of BH services in SNFs may (1) increase access to and engagement with BH; (2) strengthen positive biopsychosocial resident outcomes and quality of care; and (3) prevent or improve BH concerns among stakeholders involved in resident care, including family care partners and staff. From our evidence-based discussion, we propose a Stepped-Care Model of Integrated BH for SNFs that can help clarify the scope of practice and clinical roles for licensed BH clinicians in this setting (eg, psychologists, clinical social workers, master's-level counselors). We conclude with a discussion of policy and research implications with a focus on potential policy changes that may be necessary for BH integration in SNFs. Future research to establish feasibility, clinical benefit (eg, efficacy, effectiveness), and financial justification for our proposed model is needed. This article can serve as a guide for such future research endeavors.