Outcomes for elderly patients with mental illness following relocation from a stand-alone psychiatric hospital to community-based extended care units.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcomes for a group of elderly patients with mental illness following their discharge from a stand-alone psychiatric facility to seven extended care units (ECUs).


METHODS
All patients (n=60) who were relocated to the ECUs were assessed using a number of standardized clinical and general functioning instruments at 6 months and 6 weeks pre-move, and again at 6 weeks, 6 months and 18 months post-move.


RESULTS
By 18 months post-discharge, 13 of the 60 patients (21.7%) had died and seven others had been transferred to nursing homes. Those who died were older and had significantly higher levels of physical ill health when compared to those who did not die. Changes on measures of clinical and behavioural functioning in those who remained in the study did not reach statistical significance by 18 months post-move. However, participants did demonstrate improvements in quality of life with significantly higher scores on measures of social contact and community access.


CONCLUSIONS
The mortality observed in the follow-up period is likely to be related to physical ill health and old age rather than the trauma associated with relocation. While overall functioning did not improve following relocation, patients had more independence and greater access to community-based activities.
Meehan
Tom
T
University of Queensland, Wacol, Australia. Thomas_Meehan@health.qld.gov.au
Robertson
Samantha
S
Stedman
Terry
T
Byrne
Gerard
G
D000359:Aftercare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003688:Deinstitutionalization; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006304:Health Status; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011788:Quality of Life