[Changes and necessity of local geronto-psychiatrical networks]

This article discusses the problems and possible solutions of health care for older mentally ill people and people with dementia by the means of an analysis of literature and hermeneutical reflection. On the basis of statistics and scientific knowledge, the need of local gerontopsychiatric institutions is shown from a professional, ethical and economical point of view. The City of Bremen is taken as an example to describe the need as well as the possibilities in gerontopsychiatric health care structures.