Senior Citizens Expressing Acute Mental Symptoms: Urgent Need for Support and Treatment is Not Identified in the Community

¹Suupohja Health Centre, Prännärintie 6-8, 61800 Kauhajoki, Finland

²Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Tampere, Lääkärinkatu 1, 33520 Tampere

³Akaa Health Centre, Akaantie 2, 37800 Toijala

⁴Centre of General Practice, Pirkanmaa Hospital District and University of Tampere. Lääkärinkatu 1, 33520 Tampere

*Corresponding Author:

Kirsti Kähärä
Suupohja Health Centre, Prännärintie 6-8, 61800 Kauhajoki
Finland
E-mail: kirsti.kahara@llky.fi

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Abstract

Background: The intention was to study the reactions to mental symptoms in older people in a rural community and assess how such people would obtain appropriate support in the local service system. Methods: A postal questionnaire study was conducted in the rural Suupohja area in Finland. The target groups were a randomized sample of residents aged 15–84 (n = 1200), local social and healthcare personnel (n = 463) and politicians (n = 148). The response rates were 45%, 61% and 55% respectively. A case of an elderly woman with mental symptoms was described. People were asked about alternatives in identifying the need for treatment as well as the urgency of the treatment and the location where the intervention should take place.Results: Of residents, 69%, of politicians 76% and of health and social staff 76% recognized that elderly citizens needed urgent support and treatment. According to logistic regression, a significant association was found in the resident cohort between the need for urgent support and age over 50 years (OR 2.7). A total of 70% of the inhabitants, 90% of the social and healthcare staff and 69% of the politicians estimated that appropriate care would be obtained in the home care unit.Conclusion: In this study, nearly onethird of the residents were found to be unaware of the urgent need for treatment of senior citizens. It is a challenge to increase the alertness and sensitivity of the population to recognize acute mental symptoms. The healthcare system should improve understanding and cooperation between the community, the healthcare professionals, and local politicians.

Keywords

Dementia, home care, mental health, access to care, acute mental symptom

Introduction

The aging of the population involves new challenges for the healthcare system and local social services in many countries. Mental symptoms in previously healthy elderly citizens cause confusion in the community. The co-existence of mental problems such as behavioural disorders, delusional symptoms or depression is very common in older people, especially those with dementia. In all societies, the prevalence of dementia is increasing. Among the population older than 65 years, the prevalence of memory symptoms is on average 5–9% and among older people above 85 more than 25% (Lobo et al., 2000; Ferri et al., 2005). Dementia is an important factor, but mental symptoms of senior citizens are multi-factorial, and symptoms occur also without dementia (Akincigil et al., 2011). The prevalence of depression as a mental disorder is high among older citizens who do not have memory diseases. According to epidemiologic studies in Finland, 16% of women over 65 and 12% of men over 65 suffer from mild or moderate depression (Pahkala et al., 1995). In addition, among the elderly, the prevalence of mental disorders related to somatic diseases is increasing (Perälä et al., 2007). Adverse drug events also create a risk in older people (Budnitz, Lovegrove, Shehab & Richards, 2011; Salonoja et al., 2010). A senior citizen with delirium symptoms or acute confusion should have a comprehensive examination (O’Mahoney et al., 2011).

The early recognition and diagnosis of dementia, delirium or other mental symptoms is also important in any evaluation of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of treatment (Suhonen et al., 2010; Getsios et al., 2011; Weimer and Sager, 2009). The clinical role of mental disorders and dementia in the older people is especially prominent in that they affect quality of life and cause psychosocial impairment (Landreville, Voyer & Carmichael, 2013).`

In most cases, psychosocial support is provided by family members and the community. Society can offer psychosocial support to members with various symptoms of mental disorder if the need for help is recognized and the services are familiar. Many caregivers are themselves elderly citizens and their well-being should be improved through official services and primary healthcare (Raivio et al., 2007; Schoenmakers, Buntinx & Delepeleire, 2009; Sigurdardottir, Sundström, Malmberg & Bravell, 2012). A seamless chain of care and rehabilitation should be provided in a collaboration between primary healthcare, social services and specialized care. Cost-effectiveness can also be increased with effective co-operation among the services (Hill et al., 2002).

The national plan for mental health in Finland emphasizes the opinions of the patient and promotion of mental health and has its focus in primary and community care. Services should be available close to the individual environment (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Finland, 2010). In Finland the municipalities are responsible for organizing geriatric and mental health services. Recent studies have assessed how the organizational structure of healthcare systems may influence patients’ attitudes to seeking care (Andersen et al., 2011). According to a recent Finnish study, mental health services for older people are scanty and knowledge on mental health problems of aged people varies (Pietilä & Saarenheimo, 2010).

Our own district, Suupohja, developed a best practice model for local mental health services in 2004–2006 in order to improve the availability and functioning of mental health services (Kähärä, Piikkilä & Mattila, 2008). The sensitivity of the population to mental symptoms in senior citizens has hitherto not been studied. Also, the rural population is an understudied and research-naïve population. The aim of our study was to chart the reactions and opinions of the general population, professionals in healthcare and social services, and local politicians in respect of symptoms in an elderly citizen with mental symptoms. A further objective was to establish how this old person would obtain appropriate support in the local healthcare and social services system.

Material and Methods

Our study was carried out in the rural Suupohja area of South Ostrobothnia in Finland (population 29,051). Suupohja is a rather large area (about 3150 square kilometers) with a residential density of 9.7 people per square kilometre. Its main manufacturing industries are industrial materials, the furniture industry and small-scale food processing. In agriculture, the main areas are potato, milk and meat production. The questionnaire was sent to three target groups: a randomized sample of inhabitants aged 15–84 (n = 1200), social and healthcare personnel in primary healthcare (n = 463) and local politicians (n = 148). A reminder letter was sent to groups who had not responded according to the postal register. Completed questionnaires were obtained from 893 persons (50.5%).

Resident Sample

For the survey, a random sample of inhabitants living in the Suupohja area was drawn from the national population register. The original sample of inhabitants included 14 social and healthcare workers and six politicians who were ultimately excluded from the group. The final size of the resident group was 1180 persons. The total response rate was 45.4% (n = 530). Of respondents, 61% were female. The younger the inhabitants were, the less they were likely to respond to this questionnaire. In the youngest age groups (born 1971–1993), the response rate was 30.6%. The mean age of respondents was 53. Of the total, 68% lived in a permanent relationship; 75% had children, 2.6 on average (Table 1).

Table 1. Respondents to the questionnaire in the Suupohja area in South Ostrobothnia. Background variables of the respondents in different groups

Local Politician Sample

The responding local politicians were members of local municipal councils, municipal boards and committees responsible for social and health services. The response rate of the local politicians was 55.4% (n = 79). The mean age of the respondents was 52, and 59% were male (Table 1).

Social and Health Care Worker Sample

The social and healthcare personnel were working in health centres, guidance centres, the social work sector, the day care sector, occupational healthcare and home nursing. The total response rate in this group was 61.3% (n = 284), and the mean age was 49 years. These workers were almost all female (Table 1).

The Questionnaire

In the questionnaire, respondents were asked to choose alternatives in to how to identify the need for treatment and support as well as the urgency of treatment. The persons envisaged had the kind of symptoms assumed to be typical in consultations of experienced general practitioners (GP) in this area. In respect of the problems of senior citizens, the hypothesis was that urgent intervention was needed and the best approach to the problem would be to contact the home care unit because home care staff are accustomed to the problems older people have and may make a home visit in order to assess the situation. The specific question in the questionnaire was, “An older woman is living alone next door to you. She has no relatives nearby; her only daughter is living in Helsinki (nearly 400 km away). In recent months, her behaviour has changed significantly. She stays awake at night, and she is also disturbingly noisy during the night. She does not greet her neighbours or walk outside her home any more. She has not emptied her mailbox for weeks. How do you evaluate the situation?”

With regard to the urgency of treatment, the statement was, “In my opinion these symptoms need urgent treatment.” The alternatives were on a five-level Likert scale: “I totally agree/I slightly agree/I cannot say/I slightly disagree/I totally disagree. The respondent was also asked to estimate what he/she would do personally and in which sector of local healthcare or social services system the support and treatment of the elderly citizen would be obtained. The answer alternatives were “Yes” or “No”. The background variables of the respondent were age, marital status, vocational education, employment status and number of children.

Statistical Analysis

Data were analysed using SPSS 16.0 for Mac OS X. Groups were compared using Pearson’s chi-square test. Associations in evaluating the urgency of treatment by measuring the odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were studied using logistic regression analysis. Before the analysis, the answer alternatives were re-modelled into two-level form (I totally agree/versus other alternatives). Also age, marital status, vocational education, employment status and number of children were placed in two-level classes (under or over 50 years of age/married or cohabiting vs single/high vocational education or university degree vs low vocational education or none/ children vs no children).

The Ethics Committee of the South Ostrobothnia hospital district approved the study.

Results

A total of 69% of the inhabitants, 76% of the local politicians and 76% of the health and social workers felt that the older woman in the questionnaire needed urgent support and treatment. In logistic regression analysis among the resident sample, a statistically significant positive association was found between the need for urgent support and the respondent’s age of more than 50 years (Table 2). Inhabitants over 50 felt that urgent intervention was needed more than their younger peers. Female respondents tended to show more concern than male, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Table 2. Responses: “In my opinion these symptoms urgently need treatment.” Odds ratios in logistic regression analysis. The odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval is bolded when statistically significant

The actions the respondents were ready to take are presented in (Table 3). In the matter of assistance to the older women, the most common answer was contacting the relatives. Approximately 90% of respondents in all groups suggested this approach. Resident respondents would personally assist the woman some ten per cent units less than local politicians and health and social staff. The local politicians and professionals relied more on the health and social sector than residents, the difference being 13–18 per cent.

Table 3. The actions respondents would take to assist the older woman with mental symptoms. The alternatives were “yes” or “no”. Proportion of “yes” answers

The respondents suggested that appropriate care in the health and social sector would mostly be found in the home care unit or in the acute care unit of the health centre (Table 4). Among social and healthcare staff, it was proposed approximately 20 per cent units more often than in the other groups that appropriate care would be obtained in the home care unit. The acute care unit of the health centre would be an appropriate care-provider, according to 62–67% of the respondents.

Table 4. The opinions of respondents as to where the appropriate care would be obtained in the local health and social sector. The alternatives were the acute care unit of the health centre, the home care unit, the family guidance centre, the guidance centre for memory diseases, the social work unit or the team for psychosocial support. Proportion of “yes” answers

Discussion

Almost one-third of residents did not feel that urgent treatment was needed. Among the general population, inhabitants over 50 years of age showed more concern about the symptoms than the younger age groups. Among the local politicians and social and healthcare workers, one in four respondents did not recognize an urgent need for intervention.

Postal questionnaires involve a risk of selection, depending on the responses received. The response rate in the samples varied between groups. The rural population is an understudied group and difficult to reach: their response rate was within a range comparable to that found in previous studies among politicians (Eronen et al., 2014), employees (Midttun, 2007; Haukilahti et al., 2008) and general population (Tuulari, Aromaa, Herberts & Wahlbeck, 2007). Our findings accord with those of previous studies in which the response rate was higher among female respondents and respondents of older age than among male respondents and in younger age groups. The questionnaire was laborious for the respondents. A limitation of the research was that it was not possible to analyse the non-responding groups compared with the responding groups: for example, was there a difference in mean age, marital status or education. In the questionnaire, the description of the symptoms of the senior citizen was in narrative form in order to elicit the attitudes of the respondents. Clinical scenarios have been widely used in the education of healthcare professionals in assessing decisions made by professionals (Moskowitz, Kuipers & Kassirer, 1988; Sedgwick, Grigg & Dersch, 2014) and also in studying the diversity of physicians’ behaviour (Hinkka, 2001). A clinical scenario of an elderly woman was chosen in our questionnaire because experienced general practitioners in the area estimated that this scenario represented a highly typical consultation. The life expectancy of women is approximately six years longer than the life expectancy of men (Findicator, 2016). Many elderly women live alone after their spouse has died; they are often vulnerable and suffer from loneliness.

The questionnaire was also sent to local politicians. In a democracy, the opinion of the population should have an impact on the decisions of politicians when, for example, the municipality is developing the service sector of primary healthcare and social services. Funding and resources for the healthcare system depend on political decisions. At the same time, the quality of treatment has to be followed on regional and national levels. The health and social sector personnel and politicians approached in our study identified the urgent need for support and treatment in the case of the older woman more often than the general population.

The results showed a good sense of community. Of the responding area residents, 87% would contact the woman’s relatives. A sense of community is highly valuable in a community and has broadly positive effects on mental health (Cook, Herman, Phillips & Sttersten, 2002). The inhabitants under 50 showed less concern with the symptoms than the older age groups. This may indicate that the older age groups have a stronger sense of community than the younger groups. On the other hand, most caregiving family members are themselves elderly persons, and this leads to more sensitivity in assessing different symptoms of a person.

The home care unit of the local health centre was regarded as the most appropriate place to obtain help, and the health centre acute care unit was considered second best. Home care units play an important role in local services, as they are located in the area. Other primary healthcare and social services are concentrated in the central areas of the Suupohja municipalities. The home care units rely on the social capital (Falk & Kilpatrick, 2000) of the community. The older generation has usually lived their whole life in the district and depended on the voluntary help of the community and neighbors in their everyday life. According to the results of the questionnaire, the respondents in all groups were active in themselves contacting the relatives of senior citizens. Higher levels of networks, civic participation and cohesion have been reported in rural versus urban areas (Ziersch et al, 2009).

When the local best-practice model for mental health services (Kähärä, Piikkilä & Mattila, 2008) was designed, social and healthcare personnel were trained to use the model in advising patients how to obtain treatment. In this model, the treatment and care of senior citizens was coordinated from the local home care units, as may be observed from the results of our questionnaire study. The coordinative role of the home care unit was widely recognized by social and healthcare professionals. Familiarity with home care services was lower among residents and local politicians. In many healthcare systems, general practitioners work as gatekeepers to specialists and medical resources (Forrest, 2003). Making the local services known to the inhabitants should be a major task for general practitioners, nurses and social workers.

In ensuring quality of life for older people, it is of the utmost importance that memory diseases, mental symptoms and symptoms of delirium are recognized at an early stage and that their access to care is facilitated. Symptoms of delirium can have life-threatening consequences for older people if they are not recognized and treated appropriately (Han et al., 2009). There are recommendations for optimal practice in the treatment of progressive memory diseases. The appropriate services should be provided locally in a multi-professional memory clinic whose responsibilities in the care of memory patients should be agreed upon within regional chains of care. A prerequisite of this is sufficient local resources (Suhonen et al., 2010).

Conclusions

The opinions and social attitudes of the community play a prominent role in reaching the goals of mental health strategies. A sense of community was identified in the responses of the local inhabitants. The access to health and social services is important, and special assistance is needed especially when the patient him-/herself cannot fully comprehend the situation. It is a challenge to promote the necessary knowledge and sensitivity in the general population, especially the younger age groups, so they can recognize mental symptoms in older people. At the same time, provision of appropriate information regarding local services is a shared task within the community. The social and healthcare system should improve understanding and cooperation between the community, healthcare professionals, and the local politicians.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Description of Authors’ Roles

Kirsti Kähärä was responsible for the study conception and design, and performed the data collection and drafted the manuscript. Jaakko Valvanne and Juhani Grönlund made critical revisions to the study. Kari Mattila made critical revisions and supervised the study and the data collection. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

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