A systematic review of the effectiveness of community-based mental health outreach services for older adults.

Psychiatric outreach services that provide mental health assessment and treatment to older adults in their homes or communities are widely promoted as improving access and outcomes for older adults. However, a systematic review of the efficacy of these services has not been done. This review evaluates the evidence base for the effectiveness of outreach services for older adults with mental illness in noninstitutional community settings. End points of interest include the ability of the outreach program to increase access to mental health services and improve psychiatric outcomes.