Behavioral health needs and problem recognition by older adults receiving home-based aging services.
OBJECTIVE
Older adults' recognition of a behavioral health need is one of the strongest predictors of their use of behavioral health services. Thus, study aims were to examine behavioral health problems in a sample of older adults receiving home-based aging services, their recognition of behavioral health problems, and covariates of problem recognition.


METHODS
The study design was cross-sectional. Older adults (n = 141) receiving home-based aging services completed interviews that included: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV; Brief Symptom Inventory-18; attitudinal scales of stigma, expectations regarding aging, and thought suppression; behavioral health treatment experience; and questions about recognition of behavioral health problems.


RESULTS
Thirty (21.9%) participants received an Axis I diagnosis (depressive, anxiety, or substance); another 17 (12.1%) were diagnosed with an adjustment disorder. Participants were more likely to recognize having a problem if they had an Axis I diagnosis, more distress on the BSI-18, family member or friend with a behavioral health problem, and greater thought suppression. In logistic regression, participants who identified a family member or friend with a behavioral health problem were more likely to identify having a behavioral health problem themselves.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that older adults receiving home-based aging services who recognize behavioral health problems are more likely to have a psychiatric diagnosis or be experiencing significant distress, and they are more familiar with behavioral health problems in others. This familiarity may facilitate treatment planning; thus, older adults with behavioral health problems who do not report familiarity of problems in others likely require additional education.
Gum
Amber M
AM
Department of Aging and Mental Health, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, FL, USA. agum@fmhi.usf.edu
Petkus
Andrew
A
McDougal
Sarah J
SJ
Present
Melanie
M
King-Kallimanis
Bellinda
B
Schonfeld
Lawrence
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D015438:Health Behavior; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006304:Health Status; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data