Barriers Faced by Older Adults Accessing Psychological Care: A Critical Review.

With a recent surge in older adult populations worldwide (i.e., composed of individuals aged 65 years and older), disparities in mental healthcare delivery and access are increasingly apparent. An analysis of the literature on service provision for individuals experiencing mental health issues shows that older adults are ubiquitously underrepresented and underserved. Older adults who require resources frequently fall through the cracks of family healthcare and community mental health centres. Older adults underutilizing mental health resources is likely due to a myriad of barriers to perceiving a need for care and to accessing care once a need is acknowledged. This critical review explores how physical and psychological barriers are distinct and how they lead to adverse outcomes for older adults through physical and social isolation and internalized ageism stigma. Proposed steps to mitigating challenges to accessing mental healthcare are discussed, including increasing availability of specialized geriatric care providers, establishing healthy and diverse community support networks with more physically accessible community programs, and increasing integration of medical and mental healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]