The Spanish state is structured in 17 Autonomous Communities. Even though the general principles of the public health system (complete and free for all the citizens) is guaranteed by laws that compel to those of the State, each Community Autonomous Community is responsible for organizing the assistance services and the corresponding budgets assignment.
In the last decade, the interest in psychogeriatrics has experimented an exponential growth in Spain, in a way parallel to the development of the Sociead Española de Gerontopsiquiatría y Psicogeriatría (SEGP). On the other hand, professionals frequently comment on the differences between Autonomous Communities concerning the availability and type of psychogeriatric services.
Objective: In order to promote a reflexion on the current situation of Psychogeriatric Assistance in Spain, the SEGP set up a task force with representatives of different geographical zones of the State, coordinated by the author. The present paper summarizes the findings.
Methods: The members of the task force agreed on a methodology for collecting similar information in the different geographical zones, including the following elements: Socio-Demographic data; Technical or legal documents that could influence the attention to the older persons with mental illness; Epidemiological Information carried out in the zone: prevalence or incidence studies, expressed and non expressed demand; Gerontological resources available, suitable for meeting psychogeriatric needs, specifically organization of the assistance to demented patients; Difficulties in the coordination between health and social services.
Results: A notable diversity between some Autonomous Communities and other is verified concerning the organization of the psychogeriatric servicies and the available resources.
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