Community mental health service use by older adults with dementia.

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Kaskie ◽  
Daniel Gregory ◽  
Rachel Van Gilder
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Mental Health Service Use ◽  
Health Service Use ◽  
Community Mental Health Service

scholarly journals Higher Rates of Untreated Distress in Older Versus Younger Adults With Indolent Lymphoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 466-466
Author(s):  
Kelly Trevino ◽  
Peter Martin ◽  
John Leonard
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Mental Health Service Use ◽  
Health Service Use ◽  
Younger Adults

Abstract Indolent lymphomas are incurable but slow-growing cancers, resulting in a large number of older adults living with these diseases. Patients typically live with their illness for years with the knowledge that disease progression is likely. Yet, little is known about psychological distress in this population. This study examined rates of and the relationship between distress and mental health service use in older and younger adults with indolent lymphomas. Adult patients diagnosed with an indolent lymphoma (e.g., follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma) within the past six months completed self-report surveys of distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS) and mental health service use since the cancer diagnosis (yes/no). Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and chi-square analyses were used to examine study questions. The sample (n=84) included 35 patients 65 years or older. Across the entire sample, 21.4% screened positive for distress on the HADS; 58.8% of these patients did not receive mental health services. Older adults reported lower distress levels than younger adults (17.1% v. 24.5%; p=.038). Among younger adults, 50% of distressed patients received mental health services; only 20% of distressed older adults received mental health services. Distress was associated with mental health service use in younger adults (p=.004) but not in older adults (p=.17). Older adults with indolent lymphomas have higher levels of untreated distress than younger adults. Research on the mechanisms underlying these age differences (e.g., stigma toward mental health services, ageism) would inform interventions to increase rates of mental health service use and reduce care disparities due to age.

scholarly journals Racial segregation and mental health service use by older adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 957-958
Author(s):  
Kyeongmo Kim ◽  
Denise Burnette
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Racial Segregation ◽  
Mental Health Service Use ◽  
Health Service Use ◽  
Race Ethnicity

Abstract Older adults living in racially segregated neighborhoods often lack access to mental health care. This study assessed the role of racial segregation in mental health service use and examined whether the relationship between segregation and mental health service use differs by race/ethnicity. We linked residential segregation data from the National Neighborhood Change Database to the 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The sample included 4,023 adults aged 65 and older. We measured mental health service use as visit(s) to a mental health professional and/or use of prescribed medication for mental health (1=yes, 0=no) during the past year. Residential segregation was assessed using a combined measure of isolation (level of interaction with the same racial and ethnic group members) and dissimilarity (evenness of distribution of racial groups). Indices ranged from 0 (integrated) to 1 (segregated). We adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, income, attitude toward health care, health insurance, and mental health status. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that older adults living in more segregated counties were less likely to use a mental health service than those living in more integrated counties (OR=0.77, p=.04). The relationship did not differ by race/ethnicity. As expected, Blacks and Hispanics underused mental health services compared to Whites. The findings highlight that racial segregation limits access to mental health care. Practitioners and policy-makers should identify mental health needs and service use patterns to target services effectively and efficiently. Future research should explore the intersection of income and mental health care resources in segregated neighborhoods.

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