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New long-stay patients in a hospital for mental handicap
Insights
Hospital admissions for mentally handicapped individuals reveal a significant need for specialized care. Many new long-stay patients, particularly children, present profound intellectual disability and severe behavioral issues requiring intensive hospital services.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Disabilities
Background:
- The 1971 report 'Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped' predicted a reduction in hospital beds for individuals with mental handicaps.
- This reduction was contingent upon admitting fewer new long-stay patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the characteristics of new long-stay patients admitted to a mental handicap hospital.
- To assess the challenges posed by these admissions in light of service provision forecasts.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 50 new long-stay cases admitted between 1970 and 1974.
- Analysis of patient demographics, intelligence quotients (Wechsler), and primary reasons for admission.
Main Results:
- 42% of admissions were children.
- 54% of admissions had a Wechsler intelligence quotient under 25 (profound intellectual disability).
- 62% of admissions were due to behavioral problems, and 38% were for physical infirmity or helplessness.
Conclusions:
- Certain individuals with mental handicaps require hospital-level care due to complex needs.
- High nursing dependency and profound intellectual disability in new long-stay patients present significant challenges for hospital services.
Abstract:
Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped (1971) forecasts a diminution in the number of beds in hospitals for mental handicap. It can be achieved only by the admission of fewer new long-stay patients. This paper considers 50 new long-stay cases admitted to a hospital for mentally handicapped in the five years 1970 to 1974. Of these admissions 42% were children, and of all the admissions 54% had Wechsler intelligence quotients under 25. Further, 62% of the admissions were for behaviour problems and 38% were for physical infirmity and helplessness. It is concluded that there are some mentally handicapped people who have problems with which only a hospital can cope. The high nursing dependency and the profound mental retardation of a majority of the new long-stay patients present a formidable challenge.
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