Treating the elderly mentally ill at home

Psychiatric home health nursing provides an emerging arena for treating elderly clients diagnosed with major mental disorders. Client autonomy is maintained, and treatment can be tailored to individual need. The authors describe the concept of home care for the elderly mentally ill and issues related to funding and providing services. To illustrate the broad scope of available nursing treatment for the elderly, three case studies of clients with diagnoses of anxiety/depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder are discussed.