The Psychogeriatric Assessment and Treatment in City Housing (PATCH) program for elders with mental illness in public housing: Getting through the crack in the door

Psychogeriatric Assessment and Treatment in City Housing (PATCH) is an outr each program targeting elderly public housing residents who need mental hea lth care. The PATCH model relies on educating housing personnel to serve as case finders, providing in-home psychiatric evaluation and treatment, and addressing medical and social comorbidities through case management by psyc hiatric nurses. An examination of PATCH interventions suggests that the pro gram's success is due to its emphasis on: (1) educating patients, housing p ersonnel, and caregivers about patients' illnesses and need for treatment a nd support; and (2) coordinating care among housing staff members, patients ' caregivers and their primary medical providers. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.