Don't seize the day hospital! Recent research on the effectiveness of day hospitals for older people with mental health problems

Abstract

Background: Day hospital (DH) care remains a core component of mental health services for older people. However, there has been an ongoing debate about the effectiveness and value for money of DHs in comparison to day centres (DC).

Aim: The aim was to review the recent research on the effectiveness of day hospitals for older people with mental health problems.

Method: A systematic search of relevant research literature over the last decade using the major electronic healthcare databases examining the quality and effectiveness of mental health DHs for older people.

Results: In the last decade the evidence for the effectiveness of DHs has continued to increase, but still lags behind research on DHs in general adult psychiatry and geriatric medicine. The review found that DHs appear effective at assessing and meeting needs and that a systematic approach to evaluating quality can be used to improve services.

Conclusion: Recent research supports the effectiveness of day hospitals, but further studies are needed in order to provide a more robust evidence base.