In recent years, the aging agencies have been more concerned with long-term care while the mental health systems in many states have focused on developing programs for the seriously and persistently mentally ill. A conundrum for advocates requesting additional mental health funding is the response from state funders that there is no point in additional allocations since they believe the elderly don't take advantage of the services already available. It is difficult to convince the people in control of the purse strings that the reason existing services aren't more frequently used is that the programs are not responsive to the needs of older consumers in the first place. The lack of coordinated, comprehensive health care has a negative impact on all age groups in the United States. For older adults who tend to have multiple needs, these health systems are highly fragmented and a bewildering source of patient confusion.
Many elders withdraw from service feeling overwhelmed by the long waits and complex procedures.
Connections between primary care and social services are limited as are links with primary care and mental health services for older adults. Although there is unanimous agreement about the value of communication and of streamlined intake procedures, most agencies continue to function in isolation from one other. A big reason for this is the limited and parallel funding the agencies receive, which does not encourage the sharing of resources. CMHCs in most areas of the country have devoted their resources to serving children and seriously mentally ill young populations. These centers have not been well integrated with social service agencies or with the network of primary care providers that are so important to older consumers.