| Abstrakt: |
Mental health is a topic that has been at the forefront of medical and legal scholarship for the past few decades. For many elderly people of color, however, mental health and mental illnesses seem like a “personal weakness,” something they can get through on their own, or a medical issue that they simply cannot afford to treat. This Note explores the clear disparities in why elderly people of color have less access to mental health treatment options, why they may be less likely to seek mental health treatment options, and what can be done to assist people in gaining more access and awareness to these options in their communities. The avenues of Medicare, Medicaid, housing vouchers, nursing home training, and the collaborative care model are all explored. This Note recommends reforms in Medicare, the expansion of Medicaid, reforms in Section 8 housing vouchers, improvements in identifying mental health issues in nursing homes, expansion in the usage of and research into the collaborative care model, and a nationwide awareness campaign as ways to combat this ever‐growing issue for elderly communities of color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
