Geriatric Outpatient Programs

Lake Behavioral Health personnel have tremendous experience operating outpatient programs focused on geriatric-specific behavioral health care issues, inside hospital environments.  

According to the CDC, 20% of adults over the age of 55 have a mental health disorder (anxiety, depression, mood disorder, etc.).  Further, the US population of people over 65 is projected to increase 78% from 2010 to 2030.  Lake Behavioral Health has significant experience operating geriatric-specific behavioral health care across the country. 

Not only does a geriatric-specific program serve a specific need, it also provides a cornerstone to reducing overall health care costs.  According to a University of Washington study the total health care costs for a senior with untreated behavioral disorders is double the rate of their counterparts not suffering from a behavioral disorder. 

Jürgen Unützer, M.D., MPH, of the University of Washington, and colleagues analyzed Medicare claims of 14,903 participants for a 12-month period between November 2004 and August 2006.  Over one year, participants diagnosed with depression incurred $22,960 in total health care costs, while those without depression incurred costs of $11,956. Those with possible depression, based on depression screening or reported antidepressant use, incurred $14,365.  Participants with diagnosed depression spent significantly more in nearly every health care cost category, including home health care, skilled nursing facility costs, outpatient care, inpatient care, physician charges, and medical equipment. However, they did not spend more money on specialty mental health care compared to their non-depressed counterparts. Mental health care costs accounted for less than 1 percent of total health care costs.