Mental Health Services for Adults in Long-Term Care
Deer Oaks provides behavioral health services to adults (ages 18 to 100+) living in long-term care, including psychiatric care, psychological services, neurocognitive evaluations, counseling, and telehealth. Care is delivered on-site at the resident’s facility, coordinated with existing staff and care plans, rather than booked directly by individuals or families. We also provide psychological and psychiatric services via telehealth when needed.
Who Deer Oaks Serves
Deer Oaks serves the full adult population in long-term care — individuals aged 18 to 100+ with behavioral health needs — through a single, multidisciplinary team and delivery model.
Some residents in long-term and post-acute care settings receive treatment for age-related behavioral health needs, including depression, anxiety, and dementia-related behavioral disturbances. Others need care for ongoing behavioral health needs, such as serious mental illness that requires coordinated, long-term management.
Mental Health Conditions Common Among Adults in Long-Term Care
Behavioral health conditions are common and frequently under-recognized among adults in long-term care. Depression is the most prevalent, with research estimates ranging from about 10% for major depression to nearly half of residents when depressive symptoms are included, alongside anxiety, dementia-related behavioral changes, grief, and serious mental illness.
| Depression and anxiety | Symptoms often present differently in older adults and can be mistaken for normal aging. |
| Dementia-related behavioral disturbances | Require coordination between behavioral health and medical/nursing staff. |
| Serious mental illness requiring ongoing management | Individuals of all ages deserve proper treatment once they are in the facility space; requires continuity of psychiatric care and medication management, not episodic visits. |
| Adjustment disorders and grief | Common after relocation, loss of independence, or the death of a spouse or peer. |
| Isolation-related mental health decline | Reduced social contact in care settings raises the risk of depression and cognitive decline. |
| Sleep disturbances | Frequently linked to underlying anxiety, depression, or cognitive conditions. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What mental health services are available for older adults in long-term care?
Older adults in long-term care can access psychiatric evaluations, psychotherapy, medication management, and behavioral support through contracted providers like Deer Oaks. Services are delivered on-site, via telehealth, or both, depending on the facility's needs and each resident's level of care.
How can I find a Deer Oaks-affiliated provider for an older adult?
Deer Oaks partners directly with long-term care facilities rather than accepting individual appointments. Facility staff or family members can confirm coverage by contacting Deer Oaks, or by asking the resident's facility whether Deer Oaks already provides behavioral health services on-site.
What is the difference between counseling and psychiatric care for older adults?
Counseling addresses emotional and behavioral concerns through talk therapy, while psychiatric care includes diagnosis and medication management. Older adults often benefit from both, delivered together by a coordinated team rather than by separate, unconnected providers.
Can adults in long-term care access mental health services through telehealth?
Yes. Behavioral telehealth connects long-term care residents with specialists via secure video, enabling timely evaluations and ongoing treatment. This is particularly valuable where on-site coverage is limited. Deer Oaks delivers telehealth at no equipment cost to participating facilities.
Does Deer Oaks serve adults as well as older adults in long-term care?
Yes. Deer Oaks provides behavioral health services to individuals aged 18 to 100+ in long-term care, using the same multidisciplinary team and delivery model — coordinated directly with each facility's staff and care plans.
Partner With Deer Oaks
Effective behavioral health care for adults in long-term care takes specialized expertise and a provider built for ongoing partnership, not one-off visits. Deer Oaks serves facilities nationwide with dedicated clinical teams spanning psychology, psychiatry, and counseling.
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Prevalence figures reflect peer-reviewed research on psychiatric conditions among long-term care residents; see the American Psychological Association's older-adult resources for additional clinical context.