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Social support and alternatives to institutionalization for the at-risk elderly
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|July 1, 1981
Summary
Family support is crucial for older adults not admitted to mental hospitals. Adult children and relatives provide essential care, with community services rarely utilized.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Gerontology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Many older adults require care for physical and behavioral issues.
- Geriatric Evaluation Services (GES) assess needs but may not approve hospital admission.
- Understanding post-referral outcomes is vital for elder care planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the outcomes for elderly individuals referred to a Geriatric Evaluation Service (GES) but denied mental hospital admission.
- To identify the support systems and health status of this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Follow-up study of individuals aged 65+ referred to an urban Geriatric Evaluation Service (GES).
- Analysis of reasons for referral (physical and behavioral problems).
- Assessment of social support systems and functional health status to determine alternatives to institutionalization.
Main Results:
- Family, particularly adult children, provided the majority of care and social support.
- Care included personal assistance, household tasks, transportation, and emotional presence.
- Community services were infrequently utilized.
- Most subjects had poor health, requiring supervision for mobility, physical conditions, and cognitive issues.
Conclusions:
- Family networks are the primary resource for elderly individuals not institutionalized from GES.
- The capacity of the social support system and functional health status dictate care alternatives.
- There is a significant need for support for frail elderly individuals with complex health issues within the community.