MENTAL IMPAIRMENT AND UTILIZATION OF COMMUNITY-SERVICES - A STUDY OF THE ELDERLY IN A PARISH OF STOCKHOLM

Before the implementation of the health care reform of 1992 (The Adel Reform), a study of the frequency of mental impairment of people in di fferent residential and care services was conducted in a parish of Sto ckholm. All residents, 65 years or older, registered with Primary Care Centres, Geriatric Hospitals and other institutions were assessed wit h respect to cognitive function according to the seven stage ''Global Deterioration Scale'' (GDS). The age-specific frequencies of mental im pairment were similar to prevalences reported in earlier studies. The frequency of cognitive dysfunction of non-institutionalized and instit utionalized elderly was 42% and 52%, respectively, and higher for wome n than for men. There was considerable variation in the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction among subjects in different types of accommodati on. For the different stages of mental impairment the average age was about the same. With increasing need and demand for services, and limi ted resources, these variations in cognitive dysfunction have importan t implications for structuring appropriate support systems in a popula tion with a rapidly rising proportion of elderly people.