Development of Psychogeriatric Medicine in Sweden

Extract

Psychogeriatric medicine is a young discipline in Sweden as well as in other parts of the world. Patients with psychogeriatric diseases, however, have been cared for in different ways during the centuries. When Christianity was established in Sweden, the view toward the helpless and poor changed radically. The institutions that were built, however, so-called Houses of the Holy Spirit, housed all kinds of poor and sick people as well as mentally ill elderly persons. During the 17th and 18th centuries, hospitals consisted of large units for the care of the poor elderly, children, and physically and mentally ill people. In 1763 it was established that the local communities should be responsible for the social care, and the State be responsible for mental and somatic care of both young and old people. Further, it was decided that the big hospitals should be mental hospitals reserved for all patients with mental disturbances, young and old.