Telepsychiatry for the Elderly

For many old people with mental health problems, access to psychotherapeutic and psychiatric help is often difficult. This is partly because going to a psychiatrist is still stigmatised, especially among the older generation. On the other hand, therapists with an interest in and competence for older people are often not sufficiently available even in the well-supplied western countries. In this situation, digitalisation offers various opportunities. Basically, the internet is a good way to promote health literacy. Classic psychoeducation can certainly be offered on the internet. And psychotherapy can also be administered with the help of the internet. Especially in the COVID-19 pandemic, the possibilities of internet-based therapies, for example Zoom or other techniques, were practised. This means that people with limited mobility can also receive therapy over long distances. This technology also makes it possible, for example, for the migrant population to receive therapy in their national language. All these possibilities are under development, but may become routine in the future. With the help of the digital possibilities, it is possible to organise helper conference. The professional exchange between relatives, family doctors, psychiatrists and other people in the help system can be easily organised in this way. The method also saves travel time, which is often not reimbursed in the health systems.

Dementia and COVID-19 pandemia: The situation in various European countries

COVID-19 pandemia means a special threat to elderly patients in nursing homes. Dementia sufferers, who make up most of nursing home clients throughout Europe, have been in a critical situation. They bear a higher risk of delirium when affected by the virus. They often do not understand and easily forget, how to use a mask and keep the distance required. In many institutions the elderly were isolated and could not even take their meals together. And finally they do not recognize and even fear nursing staff and other personnel, which has to wear “protective clothes”. Caregivers were told not to visit their loved ones any more.Where available, modern techniques werde used. Skype and/or Zoom, Facetime telephone should replace face to face contacts. Some insitutions offered visitor rooms, where clients and visitors were separated by acrylic windows and microphones were applied. In some areas, physicians’ visits were reduced to a minimum.Just recently, regular testing of staff and clients in nursing homes has been introduced. However, this is consuming staff time, which - again - is taken from the patients. We discuss, whether the elderly and their caregivers could set their own preferences.DisclosureNo significant relationships.