The NYIT Center for Gerontology and Geriatrics organizes yearly Geroposiums on mental health and aging. Older Americans comprise nearly 13 percent of the U.S. population. However, their use of inpatient and outpatient mental health services falls far short of expectations. The elderly account for only 7 percent of all psychiatric admissions, 6 percent of community mental health services, and 9 percent of private psychiatric care. And while it is estimated that 18-25 percent of older people are in need of mental health care for depression, anxiety, psychosomatic disorders, adjustment to aging, and schizophrenia, it is shocking to find that Medicare spends less than 3 percent of its reimbursement nationwide on psychiatric treatment. Given such statistics, it is easy to see why seniors are an overlooked and underserved population when it comes to mental health needs.

There are many factors related to this apparent state of apathy and indifference:

• Stigma
• Ageism
• Fragmented service delivery
• Reimbursement shortcomings and disparities
• Relative lack of national attention

Past Geroposiums

2012 Mental Health and Aging Forum

2010 Overlooked and Underserved: Seniors in Need of Mental Health Services … Linking the Medical Care and Mental Health Systems