California Must Build Workforce to Serve Older Adults' Behavioral Health Needs, UCLA Report Says

A new study by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for Health Policy Research warns California's public mental health workforce is ill-prepared to address older adults' mental health needs, reports UCLA Newsroom . The study estimated that between 8 percent and 16 percent of non-institutionalized older American adults have symptoms of depression, which often go undiagnosed. Further, suicide rates for older men are four times higher than for any other age group, and suicide is more often attempted among older adults than younger adults. In addition, alcohol and prescription drug misuse is especially high among adults 60 and older, and older addicts are more likely to have undiagnosed psychiatric and medical problems. The Center for Health Policy Research's Janet Frank faults the California Behavioral Planning Council's proposed five-year workforce education and training plan for omitting workforce needs for older adults. "Mental health professionals with geriatric training are retiring, and there is a limited number of doctors, psychiatrists, and nurses with adequate geriatric training to take their place," she notes. "The state can be proactive and plan ahead to make sure behavioral health workers are trained to serve the increasing number of older adults." The study recommends providing stipends and other financial incentives to trainees specializing in geriatric behavioral health services; state funding for behavioral health training programs that include geriatric content; and county peer training programs.