Integrated Primary and Mental Health Care for Older Adults: Successes, Challenges, and Recommendations

Abstract

This review highlights key studies demonstrating the benefits of providing integrated behavioral health care to older adults. We describe the successful implementation of real-world integrated care programs, discuss our own experience with integrated care, and share recommendations from our clinical practice. Integrated care increases access to treatment, produces better outcomes for patients, reduces costs, improves the patient experience, and decreases stigma. Despite extensive evidence supporting the effectiveness of integrated care, clinical, organizational, and financial challenges serve as barriers to its widespread implementation. Integration of primary and mental health care is a highly effective treatment model for older adults. Suggestions from our practice include regular screenings in primary care for mental health conditions, expanding the role and availability of nurse care managers, judicious allocation of specialty mental health resources, and the ongoing appraisal of new modalities for interdisciplinary clinical collaboration.