HOMEBOUND AGED - THE DILEMMA OF PSYCHIATRIC INTERVENTION

This study reports the 12 month experience of a hospital-based, multidisciplinary psychogeriatric community team. The patients evaluated were unable to come to the hospital clinics because of a psychiatric and/or physical disability. The group included some patients rarely seen in psychiatric office practice and outpatient facilities, but who posed problems for their families and the community. Some required referral to a clinic, crisis management or emergency hospitalization. Others however, required only minimal intervention. A total of 151 patients (119 females and 32 males) whose average age was 78.2, were seen. Seventy percent were widowed, single, divorced or separated; 43% lived alone. The patients were grouped according to the method of intervention used: psychiatric and social intervention-55%; social and nursing intervention-28%; no follow-up-11% and; emergency hospitalization-6%. Seventeen patients were left "untreated". These patients usually had more adequate family or community support than was initially apparent. They were referred for a crisis which was resolved quickly. An attempt is made to explain our approach, and several case examples are given.