HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ALL ISSUES SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rovner, B. W. Articles by Clark, R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Rovner, B. W. Articles by Clark, R.

Underutilization of Physical and Mental Health Services Prior to Nursing Home Admission

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University and Wills Geriatric Psychiatry Program, Philadelphia, PA; and the Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD.

The authors interviewed the families of 420 nursing home admissions to examine the relationship between patients' need for nursing and mental health services and their use of these services prior to nursing home placement. Although the majority of demented and nondemented patients needed help with activities of daily living, and many needed help with behavioral disorders, fewer than one-third of the families of these patients used community nursing and mental health services for these problems. Increased awareness of the potential value of and improved access to these services may postpone or prevent nursing home placement.