Abstract

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ADDITONAL FACILITIES DESIRED BY PSYCHO-GERIATRIC MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND OF THEIR GERIATRIC PATIENTS’ WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.

Michael W D’Souza and Prof. Rajesh Mehrotra*

Abstract

India with its current population of 90 million geriatric patients aged above 60 years accounts for 7.7% of its current population. With the current budgeted healthcare by the Government of India being 4.2% of GDP, much of it being targeted to fund the social welfare schemes under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) so that healthcare benefits can be availed by the poor and the needy with special focus on maternal and child health, much leaves to be desired for the mental health treatment of geriatric patients. This article tries to assess apart from the pharmacological treatment of mental health disorders by Psycho-Geriatricians of Government Hospitals and Private clinics in Gujarat state, additional facilities for the Geriatric patients treatment that would help in instilling confidence in the therapy as well as ensuring long term adherence which is crucial for the overall wellbeing and Quality of Life of the Senior citizens

Keywords: Psycho-Geriatric Medical Practitioner, Mental health, Geriatric.