Psychiatric emergency services for the U.S. elderly: 2008 and beyond

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Healthcare Management
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The aging baby boomer cohort (turning 65 in 2011) presents a growing demographic for healthcare systems.
• Psychiatric emergency services (PES) are a critical but overlooked area concerning the preparedness for elderly care.
• Existing research inadequately addresses the specific needs and demands of older patients within PES.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the current state and future demands on psychiatric emergency services (PES) from the aging population.
• To identify factors influencing geriatric patient utilization of PES.
• To propose recommendations for improving PES planning and practice for the elderly.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review including journal articles, review articles, and textbooks.
• Analysis of electronic databases for relevant research on geriatric mental healthcare and PES.
• Examination of current PES characteristics and geriatric patient usage patterns.

Main Results:

• Future increases in PES demand are anticipated due to sociodemographic shifts, higher psychiatric illness prevalence, and medical comorbidities in the elderly.
• Potential consequences include increased need for acute services, higher suicide rates, strained delivery systems, greater hospitalizations, and elevated costs.
• Current PES facilities, characteristics, and visit data provide a baseline for future projections.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing service delivery, increasing specialized training for PES staff, standardizing care, and prioritizing funding are essential.
• Promoting further research into geriatric mental healthcare is critical for effective crisis prevention.
• The future geriatric mental healthcare "crisis" is contingent upon the healthcare system's proactive response to predictable future needs.