[Gerontopsychiatry in the community--results of a gerontopsychiatric outpatient network]

Evaluation of a three-year pilot project which aims to improve the quality of care of gerontopsychiatric patients. The project goal was to expand regionally organized outpatient services.

We examined the profile (n=1004) and course (n=790) of patients treated at the Kaufbeuren regional Gerontopsychiatric Centre on the basis of sociodemographic, clinical, and care-requirement variables.

There was a diagnostic predominance of dementia and depression. During the running time of the pilot project, only 13 % of the patients had to be admitted to inpatient care.

The results suggest that the quality of gerontopsychiatric care improves through consistent efforts that are outpatient-oriented, mobile and multiprofessionally organized.