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10 - Social Functioning among Older Community-Dwelling Persons with Schizophrenia

from Section 4 - Social Functioning and Mood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2019

Carl I. Cohen
Affiliation:
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Paul D. Meesters
Affiliation:
Friesland Mental Health Services
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Summary

Most older individuals with schizophrenia reside in the community. Their social achievements are well behind those of their healthy age-peers. At the same time, there is no room for a stereotype of older patients with schizophrenia, as heterogeneity characterizes their social functioning. The social spectrum ranges from socially isolated, severely incapacitated patients to societally integrated, near-normal functioning individuals. While many ageing-associated changes (e.g., reduced mobility) impact negatively on social functioning, others (e.g., more extravert coping styles) may partially compensate. Importantly, with time, a substantial number of patients can improve their social functioning and may experience a higher subjective quality of life. Various psychosocial interventions have shown promising results, but most older individuals still miss out. To move forward, defeatism in professionals about the ability of patients to profit from these treatments should be overcome. In addition, there is a strong case for the development of day care services that offer a hospitable and non-demanding social environment to older community-living persons with schizophrenia. Residential and nursing homes need to offer more specialized facilities for older people with severe mental illnesses, given the rapid growth in their numbers.
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Schizophrenia and Psychoses in Later Life
New Perspectives on Treatment, Research, and Policy
, pp. 117 - 127
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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