The Psychogeriatric Assessment and Treatment in City Housing (PATCH) program for elders with mental illness in public housing: getting through the crack in the door.

Psychogeriatric Assessment and Treatment in City Housing (PATCH) is an outreach program targeting elderly public housing residents who need mental health care. The PATCH model relies on educating housing personnel to serve as case finders, providing in-home psychiatric evaluation and treatment, and addressing medical and social comorbidities through case management by psychiatric nurses. An examination of PATCH interventions suggests that the program's success is due to its emphasis on: (1) educating patients, housing personnel, and caregivers about patients' illnesses and need for treatment and support; and (2) coordinating care among housing staff members, patients' caregivers and their primary medical providers.