Homebound aged: the dilemma of psychiatric intervention.
This study reports the 12 month experience of a hospital-based, multidisciplinary psychogeriatric community team. The patients evaluated were unable to come to the hospital clinics because of a psychiatric and/or physical disability. The group included some patients rarely seen in psychiatric office practice and outpatient facilities, but who posed problems for their families and the community. Some required referral to a clinic, crisis management or emergency hospitalization. Others however, required only minimal intervention. A total of 151 patients (119 females and 32 males) whose average age was 78.2, were seen. Seventy percent were widowed, single, divorced or separated; 43% lived alone. The patients were grouped according to the method of intervention used: psychiatric and social intervention--55%; social and nursing intervention--28%; no follow-up--11% and; emergency hospitalization--6%. Seventeen patients were left "untreated". These patients usually had more adequate family or community support than was initially apparent. They were referred for a crisis which was resolved quickly. An attempt is made to explain our approach, and several case examples are given.
Department of Psychiatry, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.
H
H
Grauer
H
H
Kravitz
E
E
Davis
C
C
Rodrigue
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012931:Social Environment