title: The clinical and demographic characteristics of elderly patients of Polish origin newly referred to a geriatric psychiatry service.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical, demographic, social and service utilization characteristics of elderly Poles with indigenous elders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A geriatric psychiatry service in an urban area.
  
  
  METHODS
  All newly referred patients to a West London geriatric psychiatry service were studied. The uptake of service and clinical, demographic, social and service utilization characteristics of elderly Poles and indigenous elders were compared after extracting information from case-notes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve percent of all referrals were of Polish origin. This figure is considerably higher than 4% of all community-dwelling elderly being of Polish origin in Ealing. There were no differences in clinical, demographic, social and service utilization characteristics between Polish and indigenous patients with a few exceptions. Elderly Poles were more likely to be married (p < 0.005) and indigenous elders were more likely to be single (p < 0.05). Elderly Poles were more likely to be advised to take out power of attorney (p < 0.014). Elderly Poles were less fluent in English (p < 0.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Newly referred elderly Poles accessed and utilized the geriatric psychiatry service resources and social services at least as equitably as indigenous elders.
authors.affiliation: West London Mental Health NHS Trust, Southall, Middlesex, UK.
authors.forename: Shirish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatkal
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland / Q000208:ethnology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index