COMPREHENSIVE GERIATRIC MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICE IN SAN-FRANCISCO

As recently pointed out by the US Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, meeting the increasing needs of the rapidly expanding elderly population in this country will challenge all social systems. States and cities with large populations of the elderly are attempting to mobilize their resources to respond to this challenge; California, for example, has at least 30 departments of the state government charged with responsibility for the aged. The goals of its program are to maintain the elderly in their own homes for as long as possible through early identification of problems, to prevent hospitalization through referrals to treatment before the condition becomes severe, or, if required, to locate the most appropriate type of care, for people needing 24-hour support services.