Mental healthcare for rural seniors. An outreach program in Cedar Rapids, IA, uses an integrated approach to break down barriers to care

M Smith; K C Buckwalter

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Mental healthcare for rural seniors. An outreach program in Cedar Rapids, IA, uses an integrated approach to break down barriers to care

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Mental healthcare for rural seniors. An outreach program in Cedar Rapids, IA, uses an integrated approach to break down barriers to care

M Smith and K C Buckwalter

Health progress (Saint Louis, Mo.), Vol.74(2), p.52

03/1993

PMID: 10124306

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Abstract

Several barriers prevent elderly persons, especially those living in rural areas, from receiving mental health services. The Abbe Center for Community Mental Health is breaking down some of these barriers in the Cedar Rapids, IA, area. The center's Elderly Outreach Project identifies and provides mental health services to the area's rural elderly. A multidisciplinary team (psychiatrist, nurse, and social worker) assesses and treats home-bound clients. Four major barriers prevent seniors from using traditional mental healthcare services: A lack of trained professionals. Because many professionals have not received training in geriatrics, those working with elderly clients should be encouraged to attend educational conferences to fill gaps in their knowledge. Organizational barriers. Transportation and cost may prohibit elderly persons from seeking mental healthcare. Facilities must revise policies detrimental to clients' well-being. Ageism. Many elderly persons have internalized negative and incorrect beliefs about what aging is or should be. Education about "normal" aging is essential. Stigma. The stigma of mental illness is particularly troublesome. Services such as in-home counseling allow clients to get the help they need while keeping their mental illness confidential. To eliminate the barriers to mental healthcare, increased financial resources are necessary to develop, implement, and maintain innovative programs that can reach frail, isolated, hard-to-find persons in need of mental health, medical, and social services.

Rural Health

Community-Institutional Relations

Health Services Accessibility - organization & administration

Iowa

Humans

Community Mental Health Centers - organization & administration

Home Care Services - organization & administration

Patient Care Team

Aged

Health Services for the Aged - organization & administration

Community Mental Health Centers - utilization

Health Services Accessibility - economics

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Details

Title: Subtitle: Mental healthcare for rural seniors. An outreach program in Cedar Rapids, IA, uses an integrated approach to break down barriers to care
Creators: M Smith - University of Iowa, Nursing
K C Buckwalter - University of Iowa, Health Management and Policy
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Health progress (Saint Louis, Mo.), Vol.74(2), p.52
Publisher: United States
PMID: 10124306
ISSN: 0882-1577
eISSN: 1943-3417
Language: English
Date published: 03/1993
Academic Unit: Nursing
Record Identifier: 9983557651202771

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