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The identification of trends in the utilisation of mental health services by elderly: a Dutch case register study
Author(s) -
Pijl Ysbrand J.,
Sytema Sjoerd
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.838
Subject(s) - register (sociolinguistics) , identification (biology) , mental health , gerontology , psychiatry , psychology , medicine , environmental health , philosophy , linguistics , botany , biology
Objective In view of the rapid ageing of the population any changes in the use of mental health services by the elderly became increasingly important for policy development. This study aimed at the supply of information about trends in the numbers of elderly clients, the services they used and the volume and pattern of service utilisation. Methods Details of elderly users and their use of community‐ and hospital‐based services between 1990 and 1999 were retrieved from the Groningen case register. Developments in population size and age distribution in the register area were taken into account, as were the unit costs of mental health services. Results Large age specific changes were found that caused only the expenditures on the oldest elderly to increase due to a shift from outpatient clinics to prolonged psychogeriatric day treatment and inpatient care. Comparatively young elderly used fewer inpatient services and more community care. The number of new elderly clients declined progressively. In some age groups treated prevalence also decreased, but to a lesser extent, because of a prolonged use of mental health services. Conclusions Study results seemed well in accordance with mental health policy as to deinstitutionalization and active ageing. Research on the effect of mental health care on life expectancy and the time lag between the intake of mental health providers and treated prevalence was proposed in order to improve the prediction of future service use by elderly. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.