Elder abuse and mental health

Although many effective treatments for mental illness exist, a variety of federal and state policies have created significant barriers today that inhibit the provision of mental health services to older adults. These barriers affect all older people, whether they live in the community or in an institution for long-term care. This article briefly looks at developments in recent years that have produced an unusual opportunity for the United States to address the unmet mental health needs of older Americans. The article concludes that the shortage of qualified mental health professionals is clearly a critical issue. (C) 2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.