Abstract
Eighty-five (100 per cent) consecutive psychogeriatric patients admitted to the Public Health Department Geriatric Service of Western Australia and eighty (94 per cent) of the original 85 psychogeriatric patients admitted to the Mental Health Services of Western Australia were re-examined by the author 12 months after admission. Twenty-five Geriatric Service patients had died, 19 were alive in the community, and 41 alive in hospital; the corresponding Mental Health Services figures were 15, 33 and 32.
Differences in movement pattern and outcome between the two services, and between mental hospital admissions in the United Kingdom and Western Australia, were documented. There was a considerable number of repeated transfers from one hospital or nursing home setting to another during the 12 months among those patients living in hospital at follow-up, and to a less extent among those who died. Outcome of the patients was related to a number of factors for each service.