An online mental healthcare provider has created a new program for older adults and their specific challenges.
The need to address mental health concerns among seniors became especially important during the pandemic, when many older adults experienced higher levels of depression and isolation.
Although seniors use mental health services less than younger age groups, the decline in physical and cognitive function that they often experience can lead to a vicious cycle, where depression leads to further decline.
Approximately 14% of people aged more than 60 years have some form of mental health disorder, according to the World Health Organization.
Some experts have gone as far as to describe a “mental health crisis” in long-term care settings.
The new program, which was created by telehealth company Talkiatry, offers older adults an initial appointment for onboarding and rapport-building, as well as cognitive and functional assessments, the company said.
Talkiatry also works with caregivers to help coordinate appointments and assist with any technical issues that seniors may have.
Talkiatry’s slate of clinicians for the program are trained in older adults’ specific needs, the company said, adding that they have more than 60 in-network providers, including Medicare.
“Everyone deserves access to quality psychiatric care, especially older patients who are regularly navigating stressful events such as declining independence, memory impairment and loss of family members and friends,” Robert Krayn, CEO and co-founder of Talkiatry, said in a statement. “We want older people who need psychiatric care to know that quality, specialized telehealth services are readily available.”
Recently, Congress has taken up the cause of increasing telehealth services for older adults. New bills, including one specifically for mental health televisits, would remove in-person requirements and would make permanent pandemic-era rules that expand access to telehealth services.
