The clinical and demographic characteristics of elderly patients of Polish origin newly referred to a geriatric psychiatry service.
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.
Bhatkal
Shirish
S
West London Mental Health NHS Trust, Southall, Middlesex, UK.
Shah
Ajit
A
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