Hospital treatment of elderly neuropsychiatric patients. I. Initial clinical and administrative experience with a new teaching ward.
Program planning and the initial experience of a new teaching ward for geriatric psychiatry are described. Elderly psychiatric patients, with diagnoses predominantly of depression and dementia, demonstrate more self-centeredness and less group awareness than do younger patients. Ward staff members often experience frustration, sadness and anger in response to working with them. Major problems unique to a geriatric psychiatry service include the paucity of adequate resources for post-discharge care and the necessity to obtain excellent medical-surgical consultation and support.
D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D000078329:Workforce