Rural mental health and aging: implication for case management.

Older adults are underrepresented as recipients of mental health services, despite evidence that preventive interventions are effective and complement physical health interventions. Barriers to using these services include the stigma associated with mental health problems, lack of trained professionals and general barriers of availability and accessibility in rural service delivery. Case managers can play an important role in breaking down some of these barriers and assisting older adults to access t-ese services. Several outreach and educational models have been developed that are replicable and available to case managers.