11/12/2025
Across the country, policymakers are sounding the alarm about the senior behavioral health crisis and the loneliness epidemic. For many older adults, especially those living in long-term care, the biggest challenge isn’t willingness to seek help. It’s access.
A new article published in the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association by Avel eCare clinicians Victoria Walker, MD; Robin Arends, DNP, CNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CNE, FAAN, FAANP; and Muriel Engbrecht, MS, CNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC; shows how telehealth can bridge that gap.
Key outcomes from the 12-month project:
✔ Wait times reduced from 6 months to 20 days
✔ Faster connection to care lowered crisis risk
✔ Misdiagnosed residents received corrected diagnoses and updated treatment plans
✔ More appropriate use of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines
✔ Safer, more frequent gradual dose reductions (GDRs)
✔ 100% satisfaction from residents, families, and staff
Why does this matter? Because for older adults, timely mental health care can prevent isolation from becoming crisis, and loneliness from becoming medical decline.
This research shows that high-quality psychiatric care can be delivered safely in long-term care facilities - without transferring residents away from their community or support systems.
Read the published article:
https://hubs.ly/Q03XVLCS0
