Policy Changes for People with SMI in U.S. Nursing Homes

This presentation will review a recently published article outlining policy changes needed to improve the quality of life for individuals with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) residing in U.S. nursing homes. People with SMHC often face quality of care concerns and limited access to appropriate mental health services in these settings. Key recommendations include: 1) Expanding Medicaid coverage to provide comprehensive mental health services in nursing homes, 2) Requiring specialized training for nursing home staff on caring for residents with SMHC, 3) Increasing funding for transitional care programs to help those with SMHC move from nursing homes to community-based living, and 4) Enhancing data collection and reporting on the mental health needs and outcomes of nursing home residents. Implementing these reforms would represent an important step toward addressing longstanding disparities in the care provided to this vulnerable population. The lead author will review these challenges, recommendations, and future steps.

---

Evan Plys, PhD, ABPP is a licensed clinical psychologist board-certified in clinical geropsychology. He currently is an Assistant Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research and in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. His funded program of research investigates psychological intervention approaches for short-term, post-acute care residents with depression as well as long-term nursing home residents with dementia and serious mental health conditions. Clinically, he specializes in nursing home consultation and dementia caregiver mental health.