As the dual pressures of increasingly complex regulations and growing behavioral health needs among older adults intensify, senior living and skilled nursing operators are quickly adapting to meet compliance standards while also delivering the comprehensive care their residents and patients deserve.
While this dynamic can be challenging, it also presents strategic opportunities for operators willing to embrace innovative care models.
By partnering with value-based care organizations that seamlessly integrate behavioral health care with on-site primary and urgent care services, communities and facilities can support better health outcomes while streamlining regulatory requirements and operational efficiency.
According to a study published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, nearly 20% of older adults in the United States meet criteria for at least one mental health condition.
This finding isn’t surprising, as many seniors face challenges related to their changing living environment, cognitive decline, chronic illness management, separation from familiar support systems, and other changes associated with loss of independence.
With this rate continuing to rise (and mental health known to directly impact physical health and cognition), forward-thinking operators are prioritizing on-site health care services that aren’t just focused on physical concerns. They are seeking medical groups that also provide mental health care services to help maintain overall resident and patient wellness (which have been shown to increase satisfaction rates, reduce hospitalizations and support census levels).
These comprehensive Medical Groups also help operators maintain compliance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) new behavioral health-related guidelines, including proper documentation of psychiatric diagnoses, implementation of non-pharmacological interventions before medication use, appropriate consent processes for psychotropic medications, comprehensive behavioral assessments for residents with dementia, and proper monitoring protocols for those on antipsychotic therapy.
At Curana Health, we believe that a whole-person approach to wellness is key to health, happiness, and dignity for senior living residents and skilled nursing patients.
We provide a wide range of behavioral health care services (delivered by psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed mental health counselors) that complement our on-site primary, urgent, and secondary care services, including:
By providing access to both physical and mental health services through highly collaborative care teams, seniors benefit from:
This integrated model also ensures behavioral health and physical health notes are unified within the same care plans and electronic medical record system, strengthening compliance and supporting holistic resident understanding.
“When a behavioral health clinician is working directly with a primary care provider on the same team, they can catch psychological and behavioral fluctuations—like changes in sleep, appetite, mood, and engagement — before they become major concerns,” said Karem Cando, PhD, National Director of Psychology for Curana Health. “These care teams work in tandem to prevent emergency room visits and the need for a higher level of care, providing additional oversight that increases patient, family, and operator peace of mind.”
Ready to transform physical and mental health care within your community or facility? Contact us today to learn more about Curana Health’s behavioral health services.
