State not prepared to handle mentally ill and aging population

Another View: State not prepared to handle mentally ill and aging population (by James Gomez, The Sacramento Bee) “The Sacramento Bee article, “Shifting population in California nursing homes creates ‘dangerous mix’ ” (Page 1A, April 3), identifies growing challenges for our state’s nursing homes, but it fails to focus on the root cause of what got us here. State and local policy on mental and behavioral health care, and its lack of dedicated services in this area, are key to this issue.California, by conservative estimates, is several thousand beds short of adequately serving those with mental illness or behavioral issues. The shortage of 24-hour care – and the beds required for that treatment – places a strain throughout the health care system, and specifically in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities.” Entire Article

---

Posted in In The News on April 12, 2016