Supporting Older Adults Unmet Needs, Social Determinants of Health, and Depression Care within the Strained Landscape of Primary Care: The Care Partners Initiative

Unützer et al. examined the feasibility of partnering with community-based organizations to enhance standard collaborative care and the impact on older adults with depression. Collaborative care has demonstrated effectiveness in improving late-life depression within primary care settings. Still, clinics offering collaborative care find it challenging to address unmet needs that may impact the severity of patients’ depressive symptoms. Primary care clinics' partnerships with community-based organizations that have dedicated training and resources to address older adults’ unmet needs and social determinants of health have the potential to strengthen depression treatment.