Recently, a nursing home in central Illinois has had issues regarding younger patients with psychiatric diagnoses being admitted. This is unfortunately not an uncommon problem among long-term facilities. The root of this problem does not lie with the nursing homes, but with the mental health system – or rather lack of. I agree that younger psychiatric residents do not belong with the geriatric population for many reasons, but there are very few other places for them to go. Not enough community services exist and those that do are overloaded. The number of residential facilities is also insufficient. They are often full and unable to accept any new residents. Simply, there is not any other place for the mentally ill to go. The solution is not to place stricter regulations on nursing homes, and further removed services from the mentally ill, but instead provide them with more services.

Jennifer Rose

Central Illinois Chapter Alzheimer’s Association