A Social Club for Elderly Psychiatric Patients

It is now widely held that many psychiatric patients who would formerly have required institutional care may be maintained in health outside hospital. It is also sometimes suggested that mental illness may be prevented by suitable extramural agencies. For these purposes out-patient clinics, day clinics, domiciliary visiting and social clubs have all been recommended and used in numerous countries. Amongst these measures social clubs for elderly psychiatric patients can be expected to play a useful part, but have so far received little formal description. One of us (Smith, 1963) has reported elsewhere the organization, economics and characteristic atmosphere of such a club. We present here some data on the type of patient who may benefit from such a club and the effect upon his/her record of hospital treatment.