Improving the United States' System of Care for Older Adults With Mental Illness: Findings and Recommendations for The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health

The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health was created to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the nation's mental health service delivery system, to identify unmet needs and barriers to services, and to provide recommendations on methods for improving the mental health system. A health policy analysis was prepared for the Commission examining the organization, delivery, and financing of mental health services for older Americans. The author identified three healthcare themes, including 1) access and continuity of services; 2) quality; and 3) workforce and caregiver capacity. From among these areas, 10 policy issues and recommendations were proposed.