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The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences Advance Access published online on October 21, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp080
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Provision of Psychopharmacological Services in Nursing Homes

Victor Molinari1, David Chiriboga1, Laurence G. Branch2, Soyeon Cho3, Kristen Turner4, Jing Guo4 and Kathryn Hyer5

1 Department of Aging & Mental Health Disparities, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences
2 College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa
3 Human Services Department, City University of New York/New York City College of Technology
4 Policy and Services Research Data Center
5 School of Aging Studies, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa

Address correspondence to Victor Molinari, PhD, Department of Aging and Mental Health Disparities, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MHC 1440, Tampa, FL 33612-3807. Email: vmolinari{at}fmhi.usf.edu


  Abstract

We examined the psychopharmacological services provided within 3 months of nursing home (NH) admission to a whole population of newly admitted Florida NH residents 65 years and older (N = 947) for a 1-year period via secondary analyses of selected variables from Medicaid and the Online Survey and Certification and Reporting System. Within 3 months of admission, 12% received nonpsychopharmacological mental health care. However, 71% of new residents received at least one psychoactive medication, and more than 15% were taking four or more psychoactive medications. Most of those being treated with psychoactive medication had not received psychopharmacological treatment 6 months prior to admission (64%) and had not received a psychiatric diagnosis 6 months preceding admission (71%). Blacks were less likely to receive medications than non-Hispanic Whites. Results expand on past research by identifying an increase in the amount of psychoactive medications prescribed to NH residents, a lack of prior psychiatric treatment and diagnoses for those currently receiving psychoactive medications, only limited provision of nonpsychopharmacological mental health care, and racial or ethnic differences in the use of medications by NHs.

Key Words: Mental health services • Nursing homes • Psychoactive medication • Psychopharmacological treatment

Received November 19, 2008; Accepted September 20, 2009

Decision Editor: Rosemary Blieszner, PhD


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