title: Behavioral health service utilization and preferences of older adults receiving home-based aging services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine use of behavioral health services, treatment preferences, and facilitators and barriers to service use in older adults receiving home-based services within the aging network.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were conducted in participants' homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-two clients receiving home-based aging services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition; Brief Symptom Inventory-18; Discrimination-Devaluation Scale; utilization of behavioral health services; and preferences, facilitators, and barriers for behavioral health services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Use of psychotropic medication was high (54.2%), primarily received in primary care settings (58.8%), with a few visits a year (54.0%). Participants were more likely to be taking psychotropic medication if they were younger and white. Approximately one-third of participants on antidepressant or antianxiety medication still met criteria for an Axis I disorder. Twenty-one participants (14.8%) reported receiving counseling within the past year, with a few visits or less a year for most (57.1%). Almost all were willing to see at least one professional (97.2%) and try prescribed medications or counseling (90.1%). The most common barriers to service use were practical: affordability (71.8%), difficulty traveling (62.7%), and lack of transportation (45.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aging network clients receiving home-based services have ready access to psychotropic medications but receive very few specialty behavioral health services and medication monitoring visits. They are willing to use a variety of behavioral health services and perceive mainly practical barriers to using services. The aging network has significant potential to enhance access to service utilization; strategies for integrating behavioral health services in the aging network are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aging and Mental Health Disparities, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. agum@fmhi.usf.edu
authors.forename: Amber M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gum
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iser
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petkus
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*