Mental and Behavioral Health Care in Nursing Homes
DESCRIPTION
Over the past 15 years, serious mental illness (SMI) diagnoses among nursing home residents have grown by nearly 80 percent. Most nursing homes report that 20 to 40 percent of their residents have such a diagnosis. But most nursing home teams lack expertise in mental and behavioral health care. Twenty percent of all nursing homes have received a deficiency related to mental health care. So what can we do to optimize high-quality, equitable care for people with SMI living in nursing homes? And how can we support nursing home teams that work with them?
Join 4 national leaders and practitioners in the field to learn about policies and practices we can advocate for now to improve care for residents with SMI. Come with questions, experiences, and ideas, too. We know many of you work or live in nursing homes making a difference and figuring out what works best every day.
Speakers: Alexa Fleet, Evan Plys, Mercedes Bern-Klug, Paige Hector. Moderator: Coalition Chair, Alice Bonner.
LINKS SHARED IN THE CHAT
Policy Changes to Promote Better Quality of Life for People with Serious Mental Illness Living in U.S. Nursing Homes (Public Policy and Aging Report) | https://academic.oup.com/ppar/article-abstract/34/2/65/7665608
Resources for Supporting Nursing Facility Residents
with Mental and/or Behavioral Health Needs (The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care) | https://ltcombudsman.org/uploads/files/support/Supporting_Residents_w_Behavioral_Health_Needs_11.28.23.pdf
Mental Health Services in Nursing Homes: Models of Mental Health Services in Nursing Homes: A Review of the Literature (Psychiatry Online) | https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.53.11.1390
Trauma-Informed Care (PALTMed) | https://paltmed.org/clinical-topics/trauma-informed-care
Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities | https://nursinghomebehavioralhealth.org/
RESPONSE TO CHAT QUESTION
Q: As an overseeing family member: how to identify those nursing homes out there that are consciously taking on the care of residents with SMI, incorporating programming suited to that population (younger than 80s/90s, more mobile, SMI med management, staff education)?
A, Alexa Fleet: Look for facilities that specialize in dual diagnoses (mental health and physical health) or that are designed to care for younger adults with SMI. These are sometimes called Behavioral Health Units (BHU) or Psychiatric Units within nursing homes. Second- contact Area Agencies on Aging in New York (like the New York City Department for the Aging or the New York State Office for the Aging) can help identify nursing homes or facilities with specialized care. They may also have information about facilities that handle younger adults with mental health concerns. Third, look for facilities accredited by organizations that focus on mental health, such as: The Joint Commission (JCAHO) or the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).