Psychogeriatric specialization in state mental hospitals: A nationwide survey

Abstract

Despite deinstitutionalization and transinstitutionalization, psychogeriatric patients continue to be served in state mental hospitals. This paper reports data from a national survey of state hospitals describing the current status of geriatric services and specialists in these facilities. The data indicate that nearly three-quarters of hospitals serving elderly patients have geriatric units, but many hospitals, including those maintaining such units, have few or no psychogeriatric specialists. It is proposed that clinical training and education programs need to be expanded in order to meet the demand for specialists in this area.