Review Article
Social-Psychiatric Care for Dementia Patients in Vienna, Austri a
Stefan Strotzka*
Clinical Psychologist, Geronto-Psychiatric Center for Psycho-Social Services, Gumpendorferstr, Vienna, Austria
- Corresponding Author:
- Stefan Strotzka
Clinical Psychologist, Geronto-Psychiatric Center for Psycho-Social Services
Gumpendorferstr, Wien,Vienna, Austria
Tel: +43 14000 53090
E-mail: stefan.strotzka@psd-wien.at
Received date: February 20, 2015; Accepted date: May 13, 2015; Published date: May 20, 2015
Citation: Strotzka S (2015) Social-Psychiatric Care for Dementia Patients in Vienna, AustriaJ Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 5:190. doi:10.4172/2161-0460.1000190
Copyright: © 2015 Utkin YN, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
In 2001, the Geronto-Psychiatric Center for Psycho-Social Services opened in Vienna. Supported by the city, this ambulatory social-psychiatric institution undertook with its multi-professional team to enable those afflicted with dementia to achieve the longest possible life in the familiar surroundings of their own homes. The Center cooperates closely with the social bases of support of the city and with backing from nursing care providers. It gives advice on organizing home assistance, visiting services and placements in geriatric day centers and day clinics. Family members can get advice for relieving their burden and obtain information about dementia as a disease. During the first thirteen years, the Center examined and assisted more than 5,000 clients (approximately 30 % through home visits) with an average age of 80. The results of an extended study of more than 150 dementia patients who consulted the Center for four years demonstrate that the ambulatory and human assistance has been highly effective.
