Key partners in the detection of mental health concerns experienced by older adults have been primary care physicians and social service providers. Limited information is currently available from the professional literature on the awareness that social service providers have related to mental health concerns and older adults, especially within rural communities. This study forwarded a survey to social service providers who serve older adults to agencies within the most southern 27 counties of a Midwest State. A 25% sample (n=250 providers, n=200 physicians) which was randomly selected from a data base included all physicians and social service providers (aging, social service, public health and pharmacies). A mail survey questionnaire was forwarded that addressed providers=s perceptions related to systems integration, screening/consultation and education/training needs for older adults who may have mental health concerns (based upon issues identified from the US Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, 1999). This exploratory study begins to identify training needs and perspectives that primary care and social service providers within rural communities experience related to gero-psychiatry. Findings suggest that there are significant differences in perceptions of service needs and the magnitude of the mental health issues for older adults living in rural settings as understood by primary care and social service providers. The findings can be useful in efforts to develop meaningful training interventions, and partnerships targeted toward improved delivery of mental health services for older adults within rural communities.
Learning objectives: 1. To identify differences in perception between physicians and service providers of the mental health needs that older adults living in rural communities exhibit. 2. To identify training needs for primary and social service providers in an effort to minimize the gap in perceptions. 3. To identify how partnerships between the medial, public health and social service community can improve mental health services for older adults.
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