Behavioral Health Services for Long-Term Care Facilities
For more than 30 years, Deer Oaks has provided behavioral health services within nursing homes and long-term care settings nationwide. Through a person-centered approach, Deer Oaks partners with long-term care communities to deliver specialized behavioral health services that support residents, families, caregivers, and interdisciplinary care teams.
Deer Oaks’ behavioral healthcare solutions include:
- Psychiatric and psychological diagnostic assessments
- Individual psychotherapy and behavioral interventions
- Psychiatric medication management
- Quarterly treatment plan and plan-of-care reviews
- Neuropsychological and psychological evaluations
- Tele-behavioral health services to improve access when barriers to in-person care exist
Key Components of Behavioral Health Services
High-quality behavioral health programs combine assessment, treatment, medication oversight, and ongoing care planning to support the complex needs of adults living in long-term care settings. The table below outlines the core components commonly included in comprehensive behavioral health services.
| Benefits | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric & Cognitive Assessments | Comprehensive evaluations that assess psychiatric, cognitive, functional, and social needs to guide individualized treatment planning. | Mood and depression screening, diagnostic clarification, trauma screening, cognitive testing, dementia and delirium screening, behavioral symptom analysis, risk assessments, and capacity evaluations. | Supports early identification of concerns, improves diagnostic accuracy, informs care planning, and helps residents receive appropriate interventions in the least restrictive manner. |
| Psychotherapy & Behavioral Interventions | Evidence-based therapeutic approaches that help residents manage emotional challenges, behavioral symptoms, and life transitions associated with aging and long-term care. | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), reminiscence therapy, behavioral therapy, person-centered care plans, dementia-related behavioral interventions, grief counseling, and adjustment support. | Reduces emotional distress, improves coping skills, supports adjustment to long-term care as well as identifying long-standing mental health concerns that may have been undiagnosed previously, enhances quality of life, and may reduce disruptive behaviors. |
| Medication Management & Gradual Dose Reduction (GDR) | Ongoing psychiatric oversight that ensures medications are used safely, effectively, and in accordance with resident needs and regulatory expectations. | Psychiatric medication evaluations, side-effect monitoring, Gradual Dose Reduction reviews, coordination with physicians, identification of non-pharmacologic alternatives, and quarterly treatment plan reviews. | Promotes resident safety, reduces unnecessary psychotropic medication use, supports CMS compliance, minimizes adverse effects, and encourages whole-person treatment approaches. |
Effective behavioral health programs integrate these services rather than delivering them independently. Deer Oaks combines comprehensive assessments, psychotherapy, behavioral interventions, medication management, and ongoing interdisciplinary care planning to support residents, families, and facility staff through a coordinated, evidence-based approach.
Who Provides Behavioral Health Services?
Behavioral health services are delivered by multidisciplinary teams of clinicians who specialize in the psychological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral needs of adults. Effective programs rely on collaboration among multiple healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive, coordinated support for residents, families, staff members, and facility leadership.
Mental health providers do more than treat symptoms. They help residents navigate life transitions, support families through difficult decisions, educate staff, and contribute to facility-wide strategies that promote emotional wellness and behavioral stability.
A comprehensive behavioral health team may include:
| Psychiatrist | Psychiatric evaluations, medication management, diagnostic clarification, complex case oversight |
| Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Assessments, medication monitoring, treatment planning, care coordination |
| Licensed Clinical Psychologist | Psychotherapy, cognitive testing, behavioral assessment, treatment planning |
| Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Professional Counselors | Counseling, family support, discharge planning, resource coordination |
Frequently Asked Questions
What Types of Mental Health Services Are Available On-Site?
On-site mental health services typically include psychiatric evaluations, cognitive assessments, individual psychotherapy, group therapy, medication management, behavioral interventions, substance use disorder (SUD) support, crisis response services, neuropsychological evaluations, and care plan reviews. These services are delivered where residents live, improving access to treatment, and reducing barriers to care. Clinical documentation from these services also supports accurate care planning, helping facilities capture residents' behavioral and cognitive needs in their reimbursement and care coordination.
How Does Behavioral Health Support MDS and PDPM Reporting?
Behavioral health services generate clinical documentation that supports accurate MDS (Minimum Data Set) assessments, including mood, cognition, and behavioral items. Because PDPM (Patient-Driven Payment Model) classifications draw on MDS data, timely and well-documented behavioral health assessments help facilities capture residents' behavioral and cognitive needs accurately. This supports appropriate care planning, reimbursement, and interdisciplinary coordination.
How Quickly Can Facilities Respond to Mental Health Crises?
Facilities that partner with us for dedicated behavioral health providers can often access same-day consultation or urgent clinical support for behavioral health emergencies. Crisis response may include psychiatric consultation, de-escalation planning, risk assessment, safety recommendations, and follow-up care plan modifications designed to prevent future crises.
Does Insurance or Medicare Typically Cover These Services?
Most behavioral health services provided in long-term care settings are covered by Medicare Part B, Medicaid, managed care organizations, or other insurance plans. Coverage varies based on the resident's insurance plan, location, service type, and provider arrangements. Prior to initiation of services, insurance coverage is verified and necessary authorizations are obtained.
How Do Mental Health Providers Coordinate with Other Medical Staff?
Deer Oaks’ clinicians are integrated members of the interdisciplinary team (IDT) and participate in interdisciplinary care planning alongside nursing staff, physicians, rehabilitation specialists, and other providers. Clinicians coordinate treatment recommendations, share relevant documentation, conduct medication reviews, and contribute to unified care plans that support whole-person wellness. Physicians and nursing staff frequently seek input from our team to better understand the relationship between residents’ mental health status and their physical and rehabilitative functioning.
What Should Families Ask About Mental Health Care When Considering a Facility?
Families should ask whether behavioral health services are provided on-site, which clinicians deliver care, how emergencies are handled, how frequently treatment plans are reviewed, and whether non-pharmacologic approaches are used alongside medication management. Understanding how behavioral health is integrated into daily care can provide valuable insight into the quality and comprehensiveness of a facility's support system.
External Resources
[1] pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Quality of Mental Health Care for Nursing Home Residents: A Literature Review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2981653/
[2] providermagazine.com The Essential Role of Mental Health in Senior Care. https://www.providermagazine.com/Articles/Pages/The-Essential-Role-of-Mental-Health-in-Senior-Care.aspx
[3] pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Providing Behavioral Health Services in Nursing Homes is Difficult: Findings from a National Survey. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6684493/
[4] apa.org. Blueprint for Change: Achieving Integrated Health Care for an Aging Population. https://www.apa.org/pi/aging/programs/integrated/integrated-healthcare-report.pdf
[5] assistedliving.org. Assisted Living for People with Mental Health Disorders. https://www.assistedliving.org/assisted-living-for-people-with-mental-health-disorders
[6] nashp.org. State Strategies to Enhance Behavioral Health Care in Nursing Facilities. https://nashp.org/state-strategies-to-enhance-behavioral-health-care-in-nursing-facilities/