title: Exploring mental health service needs for the elderly: results of a modified Delphi study.
abstract: Identified key informants with professional experience in the broad domain of mental health services reported current and future mental health service needs of elderly Harris County residents as part of a three-round modified Delphi study. Forty-one professionals from various housing, psychosocial, medical, and protective service provider groups were surveyed during three consecutive rounds. The consensus achieved through the Delphi process served to describe the gaps in the mental health services currently available to elderly Harris County residents as well as identify the service needs of this population into the future, thereby providing direction for future service development.
authors.affiliation: Center on Aging, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Toward
authors.forename: Sharon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ostwald
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013781:Texas