Resources for Older Adults
SAMHSA has a number of products for serving older adults with mental and substance use disorders that can be useful to clinicians, other service providers, older adults, and caregivers.
New Items from SAMHSA for Professionals Serving Older Adults
Behavioral Health Services and Older Adults: Coordinating Care Across Systems and the Lifespan
This paper reviews existing literature to identify key challenges within the behavioral health system related to providing services for older adults. Using data from SAMHSA and other sources, the paper outlines the demographics of older adults as part of the overall population, as well as the demographics of older adults who access behavioral health services, including crisis services. The paper briefly reviews legal issues that may mediate or otherwise impact how older adults access these services. The paper also describes some state initiatives that provide innovative and coordinated care to older adults, including through crisis services.
Coverage of Selected Behavioral Health Services Among Older Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries
The primary objective of this report and issue brief is to analyze and understand trends, patterns, and disparities in mental health and substance use disorder screening, collaborative care, and OUD/AUD medication treatment service utilization among older adults.
2021-2022 Older Adult Behavioral Health
Find key substance use, mental health, and treatment indicators among adults aged 60 or older in the United States, by gender. Estimates were based on combined data from the 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Older Adults – State TA Brief Reference Document (1.7 MB)
This concise reference document highlights evidence-based practices (EBPs) that have proven effective in addressing mental health challenges faced by older adults. It offers practical guidance for State Mental Health Agencies and behavioral health services providers on policy development and successful implementation and expansion of EBPs for older adults.
Psychosocial Interventions for Older Adults With Serious Mental Illness
The guide provides considerations and strategies for interdisciplinary teams, peer specialists, clinicians, registered nurses, behavioral health organizations, and policy makers in understanding, selecting, and implementing evidence-based interventions that support older adults with serious mental illness.
Get Connected: Linking Older Adults with Resources on Medication, Alcohol, and Mental Health–2019 Edition
Designed for organizations that provide services to older adults, this toolkit offers information and materials to help in understanding the issues associated with substance misuse and mental illness in older adults. The toolkit also contains materials to educate older adults.
Older Adults Living with Serious Mental Illness: The State of the Behavioral Health Workforce
This brief provides an overview of workforce issues to consider when addressing the needs of older adults living with serious mental illness (SMI). Information includes demographics; challenges faced by a provider workforce, and ideas for strengthening the geriatric workforce to address SMI.
Items for Older Adults on Suicide Prevention and Postvention
Older Veteran Behavioral Health Resource Inventory (PDF | 3.2 MB)
This inventory provides information on resources to help health and social service professionals support older Veterans and other older adults who have or are at risk for behavioral health conditions. It also provides an overview of programs and publications on topics including posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention, long-term services and supports, and much more.
Promoting Emotional Health and Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for Senior Centers and Toolkit for Senior Living Communities
The toolkits equip senior centers (also in Spanish) and senior living staff with resources to promote mental health, suicide prevention, and encourages active participation among residents. It includes guidelines for integrating suicide prevention into ongoing programs, hands-on tools, and training manuals.
Technology Transfer Center (TTC) Resources for Older Adults
Technology Transfer Center (TTC) Resources for Older Adults
TTC's develop and strengthen the specialized behavioral healthcare and primary healthcare workforce that provides prevention, treatment and recovery support services for substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness.