THE CHARACTERISTICS OF OLD PEOPLE RECEIVING AND NEEDING DOMICILIARY SERVICES: THE RELEVANCE OF PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS

Abstract

A sample of 477 people aged 65 years and over, randomly selected from electoral rolls, were visited in their homes, independently, by a medical social worker and a psychiatrist. Twelve per cent were receiving domiciliary services from the Local Authority and a further 20% were considered to require them. The types of services received and recommended are described and the medical, social and psychiatric services of those receiving services, in need of them, and the remainder are compared. The high priority for the support of persons with chronic brain syndrome and their relatives is emphasized. Functional psychiatric symptoms were found by the psychiatrist, in a high proportion of those considered by the medical social worker to need services. Psychiatric assessment and treatment which might reduce the need for social services in some cases, would be greatly assisted by the development of a reliable screening device for the use of the primary care team.