Integrated Care for Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness and Medical Comorbidity

The excess risk of early mortality, medical comorbidity, early institutionalization, and high costs among older adults with serious mental illness necessitates development and dissemination of effective and sustainable integrated care models that simultaneously address mental and physical health needs. This overview highlights current, evidence-based integrated care models, which predominantly adopt the following approaches: (1) psychosocial skills training, (2) integrated illness self-management, and (3) collaborative care and behavioral health homes. Finally, innovative models that build on these approaches by incorporating novel uses of telehealth, mobile health technology and peer support, and strategies from developing economies are discussed.

Source: Clinics in Geriatric Medicine - March 26, 2020 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Stephen J. Bartels, Peter R. DiMilia, Karen L. Fortuna, John A. Naslund Source Type: research