Treatment of homebound mentally ill elderly patients: the multidisciplinary psychiatric mobile team

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2002 Jul-Aug;10(4):469-75.

Abstract

Authors evaluated the general feasibility of using a multidisciplinary psychiatric mobile team model for homebound elderly patients. Information was collected with a semistructured interview on 235 homebound elderly patient referrals over a 2.5-year period. Ninety-three subjects were accepted into the program; 12.9% of those accepted required psychiatric hospitalization during the follow-up. Maintaining individuals in the community was achieved with intense case management and significant increases in home-care hours. The multidisciplinary team approach appeared to lessen psychiatric disability in homebound mentally ill elderly patients.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Homebound Persons / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology*
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Mobile Health Units*
  • Patient Care Team*