Of those not immediately hospitalized, within the proceeding 6 months an additional seven per cent were hospitalized on a psychiatric unit. There is an urgent need for community based psychiatric consultation services. Psychiatric services in a consultative model enhance the primary service delivery case management teams. Education of staff, patients, caretakers, family members and other involved professionals is an important role for the psychiatrist who needs to be utilized for education of an expanding group of professionals who will be assessing the mentally disturbed elderly. The psychiatrist bridges gaps as a liaison to inpatient and hospital psychiatric services.
Funding is needed for a pilot project to Identify at risk cases earlier.
Crisis intervention through team collaboration, and ongoing treatment are some of the many needs for psychiatry. This was effective in maintaining the majority of the referred cases in the community thus avoiding costly inpatient and nursing home placement. Demography and mental health care of the aged.