In an exciting new development for the behavioral health industry, Vitalic, a senior-focused behavioral health provider, has emerged with an impressive $4 million in seed funding. With initial investments from Payvider VNS Health and venture capital investment firm Redesign Health, the company is poised to address an underserved and growing need in healthcare: the mental health of older adults.
Vitalic’s innovative virtual care model is designed with the unique needs of seniors in mind, offering a comprehensive range of services, including therapy, coaching, and medication management. Through these offerings, Vitalic aims to revolutionize the way mental health care is delivered to older adults, who often face complex behavioral health challenges that are difficult to manage through traditional healthcare systems. This new model of care is a crucial step forward in improving the quality of life for seniors, who often struggle to access appropriate, specialized mental health services.
The Need for Targeted Senior Behavioral Health Care
Despite the increasing number of older adults in the U.S., mental health services specifically tailored to seniors have been largely overlooked in healthcare. Ben Gardner, CEO and co-founder of Vitalic, has been vocal about this challenge, pointing out that the growing senior population has not seen the necessary increase in healthcare services designed to meet their specific needs. “Despite the fact that this population continues to grow, targeted efforts to address seniors’ specific needs and impact on the healthcare industry have been too small and fallen far short,” he said. This gap in care has led to significant mental health struggles among seniors, including issues with medication management, behavioral challenges, and psychosocial difficulties.
Vitalic aims to address these gaps through its team-based approach, which provides seniors with support across a range of mental health needs. By offering therapy, behavioral health coaching, and expert medication management, Vitalic helps seniors navigate these challenges, ensuring they receive comprehensive care that is tailored to their unique circumstances. The company’s model focuses on improving the overall mental health of older adults, rather than merely addressing isolated issues, which is critical in providing lasting relief.
A Collaborative and Personalized Care Model
Vitalic’s model of care is based on collaboration and personalization, key elements that set the company apart in the behavioral health field. By partnering with Medicare Advantage plans and risk-bearing providers, Vitalic aims to improve member outcomes while reducing the overall cost of care. Their focus on high-risk seniors—those with multiple health conditions and untreated behavioral health challenges—allows them to provide proactive care that targets both the root causes of mental health struggles and the associated healthcare costs.
The company uses a proprietary engagement model that leverages predictive modeling and risk stratification to identify high-cost members. Through this approach, Vitalic reaches out directly to these individuals, offering them enrollment in its care plan. This targeted strategy ensures that seniors who are most at risk for worsening health outcomes can receive timely and appropriate care. By addressing both physical and mental health needs in a coordinated way, Vitalic is setting a new standard for how senior behavioral health can be integrated into overall healthcare for seniors.
“The most overlooked element of whole-person care has been mental health,” said Dan Savitt, president and CEO of VNS Health, one of Vitalic’s investors. “Every day, our skilled clinical teams overcome enormous challenges in delivering high-quality patient and member care to older adults with complex, complicated care needs. Vitalic’s innovation and expertise in behavioral health allow us to provide specialized mental health care not previously accessible to our members while reducing the total cost of care.”
This model of care not only benefits seniors by improving their mental health, but it also has the potential to improve healthcare systems by reducing the long-term costs associated with untreated behavioral health conditions in older adults.
An Experienced Team Behind Vitalic’s Success
Vitalic was founded by a team of experienced behavioral health professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge to the company. Ben Gardner, the CEO, previously served as senior vice president of sales at Array Behavioral Care, a virtual psychiatry and therapy practice. He is joined by co-founders Michelle Hoy and Daniel Tan, both of whom have extensive experience in behavioral health. Michelle Hoy previously worked at Mind Springs Health, a leading behavioral health provider, while Daniel Tan has a background with Lyra Health, a company known for its innovative approach to mental health services.
With a strong leadership team in place, Vitalic has already made strides in recruiting top talent. The company is hiring social workers, therapists, counselors, certified coaches, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and geriatric psychiatrists, all of whom will be trained to provide care through Vitalic’s collaborative care model. This team-based approach ensures that seniors receive personalized, high-quality care, even in the face of complex health issues.
Navigating a Challenging Investment Environment
While the current investment environment is often seen as challenging, the success of Vitalic’s funding round is indicative of a growing interest in innovative behavioral health solutions. Several other behavioral health companies, such as Amae Health and Cortica, have also raised significant amounts of capital in recent months, underscoring the rising demand for mental health services that address the unique needs of various populations.
Vitalic’s success comes at a crucial time when the need for senior behavioral health services is greater than ever. Many seniors experience mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, yet traditional healthcare systems are not always equipped to provide the specialized care they need. Vitalic is working to change that by delivering high-quality, accessible care through its virtual platform.
Looking Ahead: Vitalic’s Role in Transforming Senior Behavioral Health Care
As Vitalic moves forward, its innovative approach is set to make a significant impact on the behavioral health landscape. By focusing on senior-specific mental health care, the company is not only meeting an unmet need but also paving the way for more integrated, cost-effective healthcare for older adults. The growing partnership with Medicare Advantage plans and risk-bearing providers is a testament to the effectiveness and importance of this approach.
With the backing of key investors, an experienced leadership team, and a dedicated clinical staff, Vitalic is poised to lead the way in senior behavioral health care. As the company expands its reach, it will undoubtedly play a vital role in improving the mental health and quality of life for older adults across the country, reducing healthcare costs, and transforming the way care is delivered to this underserved population.
Stay tuned for more updates on how Vitalic continues to innovate and provide specialized senior behavioral health care to older adults in need.
