Specialized partial hospitalization for older adults: a clinical description of an intermediate-term program.
The field of geriatric mental health is confronted with the dilemma of a sharp rise in the elderly segment of the population and a concomitant shortage of age-appropriate psychiatric intervention services. There is tremendous need for specialized hospital-based intervention for older adults with mental health problems. A creative and rapid response is imperative and should be based on a continuum of geropsychiatric services that includes acute inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient services. Because Medicare reimbursement for partial hospitalization is restricted to hospital-based programs, private psychiatric hospitals are uniquely positioned to assume a dominant role in the geriatric mental health service delivery system. This article details one hospital's specialized, intermediate-term partial-hospital program for older adults. Partial hospitalization is demonstrated to be an essential component of comprehensive geropsychiatric services that can overcome problems of cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and acceptability to consumers--all factors that presently restrict the development and use of such programs. Based on empirical findings, clinical adaptations to assessment and treatment procedures specific to older adults are presented.
Wagner
B D
BD
Richland Hospital, Mansfield, OH.
D000368:Aged; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006743:Hospital Bed Capacity, under 100; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D009820:Ohio; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D010934:Planning Techniques; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States