Dementia: the cost of care for behaviourally disturbed patients living in the community.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the cost of care of people with dementia and behavioural disturbances living in the community, which is currently unknown.


METHODS
This is a study of 12 randomly selected subjects attending a continuing care dementia day facility for people with behavioural disturbances.


METHODS
Hours of care received from different sources were recorded and costed.


RESULTS
The total mean direct costs to the public services was pound400 per person per week. Caregiver's time costed at professional rates were pound1208 per person per week.


CONCLUSIONS
Unpaid caregivers supported by publicly funded agencies provide a less expensive service compared to specialised institutional care.
Kirchner
V
V
Senior Registrar, Mental Health Care for Older People, Homerton Hospital, London, UK. vincent.k@virgin.net
Elloy
M D
MD
Silver
L E
LE
Kelly
C A
CA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000191:economics*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000191:economics*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics