Intervention in Psychosocial Decompensation of the Elderly in Poor Neighbourhoods in Jerusalem

Abstract

In learning to understand the particular problems of old age, in focusing our attention on losses and decompensation, we developed an approach which was concrete and situational rather than (life-long) developmental. In most cases, brief crisis-orientated interventions were sufficient to reduce symptomatology and restore the patient to a healthier level of functioning. Such interventions involved not only the psychogeriatric team but other health and social agencies as well. More so than in other fields of psychiatry, psychogeriatrics concerns itself with a wide spectrum of psychosocial factors; thus the integration of the psychogeriatric unit into the existing network of community services becomes an important concern.