ABSTRACT
Isolation and loneliness experienced by rural older adults’ further increases behavioral health and mental health risk. Key populations of older adults in rural areas face additional challenges and higher rates of behavioral health (BH) and mental health (MH) issues including veterans and individuals of color for whom health disparities already exist. The integration of BH and MH services into primary care is a common approach to addressing access and acceptability issues among rural residents. Primary care integration can take a variety of forms from shared referrals or contractual agreements between providers, to full integration with BH and MH providers physically situated on-site with primary care. Technological innovations in rural areas have increased access and acceptability of mental health services. When technology is not available for home-based virtual visits, technology can be integrated into the hospital and primary care settings successfully to connect older patients with remote MH and BH providers such as psychologists and geriatric psychiatrists.
