Sections
Clinical Psychiatry in the Nursing Home: Introduction | Nursing Home Populations | Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders | Progress in Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders in
the Nursing Home | History of Deficient Mental Health Care as an Impetus
for Nursing Home Reform | Federal Regulations and Psychiatric Care in the Nursing
Home | Changing Patterns of Psychiatric Care | Adequacy of Care | Mental Health Care in Nursing Homes: A Model for
Service Delivery | Key Points | References | Suggested Readings
Excerpt
Nursing homes provide long-term care for elderly patients
with chronic illness and disability as well as rehabilitation and
convalescent care for those recovering from acute illness. As documented
in previous reviews (Katz et al. 2000; Streim et al. 2004), clinical studies have consistently provided
evidence that the diagnosis, management, and treatment of mental
disorders are important components of nursing home care. The delivery
of mental health services in nursing homes continues to be shaped
by several factors, including growing scientific knowledge, availability
of new treatments, evolving federal regulations, public dissemination
of survey data, and changes in the medical marketplace. In this
chapter we review current information on the psychiatric problems
that are common in the nursing home, discuss current trends affecting
clinical care, and present a conceptual model for the organization
of mental health services.