Implementation of tele-geriatricmental healthcare for rural veterans: factors influencing care models.

Introduction: Aging rural veterans have limited access to geriatric mental health services. The establishment of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) regional telehealth hubs, or Clinical Resource Hubs (CRHs), has the potential to improve access to specialist care via telehealth delivered across healthcare systems within each VHA region. We used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR 1.

Brief Video-Delivered Intervention to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Functioning in Older Veterans: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Older veterans with anxiety disorders encounter multiple barriers to receiving mental health services, including transportation difficulties, physical limitations, and limited access to providers trained to work with older persons. To address both accessibility and the shortage of available providers, evidence-based treatments that can be delivered via guided self-management modalities are a potential solution.

Objective: This study aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a randomized controlled trial of 2 guided self-management interventions.

Determinants and outcome correlates of engagement with a mobile mental health intervention for depression and anxiety in middle-aged and older adults.

Objectives: To examine baseline factors (i.e., age, gender, mobile device proficiency, sensory impairment) associated with app engagement in a 12-week mental health app intervention and to explore whether app engagement predicts changes in depression and anxiety symptoms among middle-aged and older adults.

Supporting Veterans, Caregivers, and Providers in Rural Regions With Tele-Geriatric Psychiatry Consultation: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study.

Objectives: Cross-facility tele-geriatric psychiatry consultation is a promising model for providing specialty services to regions lacking sufficient geriatric psychiatry expertise. This evaluation focused on assessing the feasibility and acceptability of a consultation program developed by a geriatric psychiatrist in a Veterans Health Administration regional telehealth hub.

Design: Concurrent, mixed methods program evaluation.

Delivering Virtual Care to Patients with Cognitive Impairment within the Veterans Health Administration: Multi-level Barriers and Solutions.

Older patients with cognitive impairment, including dementia, may benefit from virtual care that increases access to geriatric specialties. Here, we identify clinician-level strategies to address the numerous barriers that reduce utilization of virtual services. We describe two innovative programs in the Veterans Health Administration that deliver geriatric medicine and geriatric psychiatry services virtually.

Geri-Mobile Health: Feasibility of a VA Mental Health Mobile Apps Coaching Program for Older Veterans.

Objectives: This program evaluation examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an individualized coaching program to help older Veterans use VA mental health mobile apps to address mental health and well-being goals.

Methods: The program delivers individual technical and clinical support to facilitate the use of mobile devices and VA apps. Participants completed assessments of mobile device proficiency, app use frequency, app comfort, quality of life, and mental health symptoms (completed by a subset, = 11) pre- and post-participation.

Older Veterans' Treatment Preferences: Psychotherapy and Self-Management Treatment Modalities.

Objectives: Self-management may help older Veterans with mental health challenges and can overcome barriers to traditional psychotherapy. However, the reasons underlying older Veterans' treatment preferences remain unknown. The current study investigated older Veterans' perspectives on psychotherapy and self-management.

Changes in Quality of Life and Loneliness Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Participating in Therapist-Guided Digital Mental Health Intervention.

This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week multicomponent mobile app-delivered intervention, the Meru Health Program (MHP), on mental health quality of life (QoL) and loneliness among the middle-aged and older adults with depression symptoms. The eligible participants ( age = 57.06, = 11.

Effects of Mobile App-Based Intervention for Depression in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study.

Background: Digital mental health interventions may help middle-aged and older adults with depression overcome barriers to accessing traditional care, but few studies have investigated their use in this population.

Objective: This pilot study examines the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of the Meru Health Program, an 8-week mobile app-delivered intervention.

Methods: A total of 20 community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults (age: mean 61.

Converting a Geriatrics Clinic to Virtual Visits during COVID-19: A Case Study.

Background: To characterize the experience of converting a geriatrics clinic to telehealth visits in early stages of a pandemic.

Design: An organizational case study with mixed methods evaluation from the first 8 weeks of converting a geriatrics clinic from in-person visits to video and telephone visits.

Setting: Veteran's Health Administration in Northern California Participants Community-dwelling older Veterans receiving care at VA Palo Alto Geriatrics clinic.

Guided self-management targeting anxiety and activity participation in older Veterans.

Objectives: This study examined the acceptance, feasibility, and preliminary effects of a guided self-management intervention using video delivery and a telephone coach on anxiety and activity engagement.

Method: Ten Veterans aged 60 years or older with anxiety disorders determined by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 edition (SCID-5) at baseline visit participated in this non-randomized study examining a 4-week guided self-management intervention for anxiety. Feasibility was examined using participation engagement with the intervention.