Serving the mental health needs of the elderly: the case for removing barriers and improving service integration

Utilization rate information reveals that elderly persons are not adequately served by the existing mental health service system. The authors identify cultural, systems, and resource related barriers to full service, emphasizing psychological barriers which may be present in both the elderly client and the therapist. Overcoming these barriers will require, first, that professional training programs and local in-service training activities be modified to expand multi-disciplinary learning opportunities. Then, the authors advocate systems change to move through in-house outreach, advocacy and programming activities toward an integrated system of community services for the elderly. Mental health workers are seen as uniquely qualified to serve as standard-bearers in developing a locally integrated service delivery system.