Problems posed for supporting relatives of geriatric and psychogeriatric day patients

Relatives of patients attending geriatric and psychogeriatric day hospitals throughout Scotland were asked to provide details of the problems they experienced looking after their elderly dependent. They also completed Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), to provide an index of degree of emotional disturbance. While differences emerged in the type of problems these two groups of supporters experienced with their dependent, the overall prevalence of emotional disturbance was high in both groups. Implications for the service provided by both types of day hospital are discussed.