The cost of care of elderly patients with psychogeriatric pathology in the community

Abstract

Objective. To estimate the cost and cost variability of psychogeriatric care in the community.

Methods. 69 patients and their respective family caregivers were studied, 34 attending a psychogeriatric Day Centre (DC) and 35 receiving the usual Community Care (CC) based mainly on outpatient healthcare. The following costs were recorded: general expenses, medication, transportation, resource utilisation, informal care and indirect costs due to health impairment and loss of work productivity of the caregiver.

Results. The mean cost of the care of a psychogeriatric outpatient was of 205,989 spanish pta per month (1,648 US $), with an additional cost of DC of 85,941 spanish pta/month (688 US $). In the CC group, 71% of the cost was due to informal care but in the case of DC, the largest cost item corresponded to resource utilisation (42%). Cost increased with age of the patient, cognitive and functional impairment and caregiver burden.

Conclusions. The cost of psychogeriatric patients’ care in the community is higher for those who attend a DC, those who are in a more advanced state of their disease and those whose caregivers are overburdened.