PROMISING PRACTICES FOR IMPROVING PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS

摘要

In order to support an aging population experiencing increasing rates of co-occurring chronic conditions, social isolation, and functional disabilities, policymakers and healthcare leaders have undertaken efforts to innovate with new integrated care models, cross-sector collaboration, and payment reforms. Without the identification of psychosocial needs – and having the adequate services and supports in place to address them – many older adults can experience poor health outcomes. This symposium will highlight two complementary initiatives that use social workers as part of interprofessional primary care teams to integrate medical, social, and behavioral health care in an urban academic health system: one initiated by a referral that assesses and addresses psychosocial needs and promotes goal setting and self-management of chronic conditions, and the other a systematic screening and connection to treatment focused on depressive symptomology. Quantitative and qualitative findings about their impact on older adults’ health and health risk will be shared. Systemic barriers to integrating care for older adults – and a range of policy and collaborative initiatives underway to address them – will also be discussed.