WHEREAS, Senior citizens experience higher incidences of mental health problems than their younger counterparts yet are historically underserved by the mental health system; and
WHEREAS, Older adults are at high risk for mental illness, particularly depression, and it follows that as their numbers grow, so will the numbers of those needing mental health intervention; and
WHEREAS, According to the 2000 U.S. census, Philadelphia has the highest percentage of older adults of the forty largest cities in the country; and
WHEREAS, The utilization rates of traditional mental health services by older adults in Philadelphia are low. For example, the Philadelphia Mental Health Association indicated that of the 55,000 people served by Philadelphia’s community mental system in 1999, only 7% were older adults and Community Behavioral Health, the Medical Assistance behavioral health insurer for the city, reported about 4.5% of all those served through this system were seniors; and
WHEREAS, While there are a number of programs in Philadelphia that are providing mental health services to seniors, there remains a question as to whether or not these services are meeting the need and whether some areas are dangerously underserved; and
WHEREAS, The City should seek to expand prevention and treatment services and should work to improve the coordination of the existing programs so that senior citizens living in all sections of the city are assured equal access; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that we begin to create a better system of care that will not only address the mental health needs of seniors, but will address their needs in a way that is appropriate, accessible, and culturally sensitive; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby authorize the City Council Committee on Public Health & Human Services to conduct hearings on the current status of mental health services for senior citizens in the City of Philadelphia.
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