Formal support, mental disorders and personal characteristics: a 25-year follow-up study of a total cohort of older people

Authors:
SAMUELSSON G., et al
Journal article citation:
Health and Social Care in the Community, 11(2), March 2003, pp.95-102.
Publisher:
Wiley

This study was designed to describe the pattern of long-term formal support received by people with mental disorders and to investigate the relationship between the medical, psychological and social characteristics of the participants and types of formal support, based on a cohort of 192 people born in 1902 and 1903 in a community in Southern Sweden. They were assessed using interviews, psychological tests and medical examinations. Information was collected about the use of primary healthcare and social services. The first assessment took place when the cohort was aged 67 and on 8 further occasions until they were 92. Participation ranged from 72% to 100%. During the observation period of 25 years, 53% of people with dementia eventually received both home help and institutional care compared to 34% with other psychiatric diagnoses and 12% with good mental health. The last group all had physical health problems and/or problems with activities of daily living. However, 35% of the dementia group, 46% with other psychiatric diagnoses and 52% with good mental health received no formal support. Males and self-employed people were significantly less likely to use formal support. The institutionalised group reported loneliness significantly more often than the other 2. In a logistic regression analysis, loneliness, low social class, high blood pressure and low problem-solving ability were predictors of formal support use. People with mental disorder, including dementia, were significantly more likely to use formal support compared with people with good mental health. Social factors were the main factors predicting formal support.

Subject terms:
mental health problems, older people;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Sweden
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1365-2524
ISSN print:
0966-0410

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