Bartels, S.J., & Smyer, M.A. (2002). Mental Disorders of Aging: An Emerging Public Health Crisis? Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, 26(1), 14-20. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26555115
Abstract
Demography has combined with under-investment in research, knowledge development, and services. The number of older adults with mental disorders is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades. This growth will have a major impact on the need for acute and long-term care and will result in a significant increase in health service utilization and costs. While effective treatments exist for many late-life mental health problems, there is a gap between current mental health services and the infrastructure necessary to meet the coming demand. This substantial under-investment in research, knowledge dissemination, and service development could lead to a public health crisis.