Authors: Brooker, Dawn J.; Argyle, Elaine; Clancy, David

Source: Journal of Care Services Management, Volume 3, Number 3, April 2009 , pp. 295-309(15)

Publisher: Maney Publishing

Abstract:

Extra care housing (very sheltered housing/housing with care) is promoted as the best way of providing long-term support for older people. What happens to people if they develop dementia or other mental health problems in these settings is less clear. While promising 'a home for life', the reality is that many have to move on to more dependent care facilities if they experience significant problems. This paper reports data from 268 residents in ten extra care housing schemes who were judged by staff teams as being at risk from exclusion because of mental health problems. The sample included three large village schemes (greater than 170 residents) that had opened in the last five years as well as three medium schemes (60–80 residents) and four smaller schemes (under 50 residents). The overall incidence of dementia and depression was difficult to ascertain from records and from staff reports. Formal diagnosis varied substantially across schemes and staff estimates of diagnosis were also variable. Formal assessment of those residents that staff identified as being most at risk, however, showed that they had similar profiles on the Mini Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, Bristol Activities of Daily Living Schedule and Barthel Inventory, regardless of the size of scheme they lived in. Those in larger village schemes were more likely to share their apartment with a spouse but the majority of people identified as being most vulnerable lived alone. These findings suggest that there is a need to take a proactive approach to people's mental health in extra care housing in order to be serious about maintaining a good quality of life for all within housing schemes.

Keywords: EXTRA CARE HOUSING; ENRICHED OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAMME (EOP); DEPRESSION; DEMENTIA; DEPENDENCY; MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT; COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Document Type: Research Article

Publication date: 2009-04-01

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