How many bed-days for an area's psychogeriatric patients?
Data were obtained concerning all admissions during a four-year period of persons aged 65 years and over, from a defined catchment area, to the general hospital psychiatric units in the area or to the nearest psychiatric hospital. The mean length of stay was 41.3 days. Of 449 admissions, 55% were diagnosed as having affective disorder or adjustment disorder with depressed mood, but this group accounted for 65% of the bed-days in the acute units with a mean length of stay of 49.2 days. Dementia cases accounted for 24% of admissions and 23% of bed-days. At present, the recommended number of acute psychogeriatric beds to serve this population of 34,000 elderly is 22; development of a comprehensive psychogeriatric service with appropriate community staffing may make it possible to reduce this number.
Snowdon
J
J
Central Sydney Health Service, Rozelle Hospital, New South Wales.
D000368:Aged; D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000639:trends; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors