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Chapter 9 - The Home Assessment in Old Age Psychiatry

A Practical Guide

from Section 2 - Assessment and Investigations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2020

By
Bradley Ng  and
Martin Atkins
Edited by
Julian C. Hughes  and
Philippa Lilford
Julian C. Hughes
Affiliation:
University of Bristol
Philippa Lilford
Affiliation:
Severn Deanery, University of Bristol
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Summary

The psychiatric assessment of older people can be carried out in many environments, including outpatient clinics, hospital wards, care facilities for the elderly and the individual’s own home. Each presents advantages, disadvantages and challenges. An initial assessment conducted in the patient’s home remains an important aspect of many old age psychiatric services in high-income countries. This chapter explores and discusses the clinical aspects of conducting an initial psychiatric assessment of an older person in their home. It aims to be neither prescriptive nor exhaustive, but hopes to increase the awareness of the reader to certain themes and considerations in such assessments.

Type
Chapter
Information
Clinical Topics in Old Age Psychiatry , pp. 129 - 138
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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