Rethinking Mental Health Care for Older Adults

Americans with serious mental illness — such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia — have a life expectancy that is 10 to 25-years shorter than the general public, meaning that “senior age” for this group is just 55 years old.

Kate Melino, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, associate professor and a 2026 Macy Faculty Scholar, is an expert in the mental health care of older adults and adults with serious mental illness. Her research and teaching focus on clinical and educational interventions to advance mental health equity. This includes addressing the social and structural determinants of mental health within clinical practice and educating health professional students with the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality care to older adults with serious mental illness.

On this episode of Illuminating Health, Melino talks about the clinical and educational interventions needed to ensure all older adults receive high-quality mental health care.

The guest host for this episode is Monica Corbin, RN, a student in the school’s BSN Entry to the Doctor of Nursing Practice pathway, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty.