Home health care's unique role in serving the elderly mentally ill.

Psychiatric home health services are a viable option for providing essential treatment to elderly clients having major mental disorders or acute psychiatric problems secondary to a medical illness. This valuable adjunct to in-home treatment can be provided by psychiatric mental health nurse specialists who work collaboratively with other mental health disciplines. If a home health agency does not have a psychiatric treatment component, it can expand its services by hiring a qualified psychiatric nurse and educating its interdisciplinary staff in the appropriate care of mentally ill clients. Referrals can be obtained from facilities for acute psychiatric disorders, psychiatrists, general hospitals, outpatient clinics, and patients themselves or their families. This important service can benefit acutely ill psychiatric patients by enabling them to be discharged from inpatient settings sooner and treated comfortably in the less restrictive environment of their home while receiving appropriate and adequate follow-up and referral. As such, it is cost-efficient to the client and society and represents the community-based care of the future for the mentally ill.