The elderly mentally handicapped in the community and a psychiatric service

The contacts of a Mental Handicap and a General Psychiatric Service with elderly mentally handicapped patients were surveyed over a six year period for a district with a population of approximately 200,000. Only 10 individuals were referred, seven to the mental illness service. Behaviour disturbance or psychiatric symptomatology was usually present, but self-care was relatively good. Another eight elderly patients were discharged from the mental handicap hospital to residential homes for the elderly; this was usually successful. The reasons for the low referral rate are discussed.