This study qualitatively assessed the need for mental health services among Latino older adults in San Diego, California. The primary mental health issue was depression. Primary organizational barriers to accessing services were language and cultural barriers secondary to a lack of translators, dearth of information on available services, and scarcity of providers representative of the Latino community. Other challenges included a lack of transportation and housing, and the need for socialization and social support. Latino older adults experienced their unmet needs in ways associated with their cultural background and minority status. Age-and culturally-appropriate services are needed to overcome these barriers.

No abstract

Expenditures were related to age and clinical diagnosis. Future efforts should investigate older adults' pathways to care, and should determine whether older adults presenting in emergency services would benefit from a specialized case management program providing linkages to community based resources.

Objective Limited data are available on how older adults access public mental health systems. This study examines how uninsured or publicly insured older adults with severe mental illness in San Diego County initially accessed the public mental health system, as well as their subsequent use of public mental health services, as compared to younger adults. Methods Data from San Diego County, 2002–2006, was used to examine how older adults initially accessed the public mental health system, and their utilization over the subsequent 90 days. Multivariate regression models were used to control for demographic and clinical characteristics. Results Older adults (age 60+) were more likely to access the public mental health system through the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT), a combined law-enforcement and psychiatric service that responds to psychiatric related 911 calls. Older adults were also less likely to receive follow-up care. This lower rate of follow-up was due to both the initial site of service – and an associated lower rate of follow-up among PERT clients – as well as a lower rate of follow-up among older adult clients initiating services in other sectors. Conclusions This paper suggests two areas for intervention that would improve access to care for older adults: improving linkages and referrals between PERT and outpatient providers; and additional efforts to retain older adults at outpatient programs.