Senior nursing staff of the 58 nursing homes in one health area of Syd
ney were interviewed concerning mental health services and staff educa
tion. One or more psychiatrically trained staff were employed in 45 pe
r cent of the nursing homes. Most nursing homes received services from
a psychiatrist or another mental health professional, but the average
time per month provided by them to see residents was less than one ho
ur in 18 (31 per cent), one to two hours in 16 (28 per cent), and thre
e hours or more in only 11 (19 per cent). Forty-four (76 per cent) wan
ted more mental health services to be provided, especially for advice
on management of disturbed behaviour. A substantial number of the nurs
ing homes (at least 28 per cent) provided no ongoing education to thei
r staff about dementia or other psychiatric problems. There is good re
ason to encourage greater use of mental health professionals in Sydney
nursing homes; enhanced funding of area psychiatric services for elde
rly people is desirable to allow these services to be more readily ava
ilable.