Factors associated with longer hospital admission in elderly patients with major neurocognitive disorder.

Background: Major neurocognitive disorder presents many challenges to patients, families and healthcare systems, especially when a patient requires admission to a psychiatric hospital. Aim: To identify characteristics of older patients with major neurocognitive disorder at risk of prolonged admission in a psychiatric hospital. Setting: A tertiary psychiatric hospital in Gauteng province, South Africa. Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective review of the hospital database and clinical files. Clinical and demographic data were collected from the files of 50 inpatients, 60 years and older, who were diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder and admitted between 2015 and 2019. Anonymised data from patient records were captured on an electronic spreadsheet and analysed using Results: The mean duration of admission was 18.29 months. Involuntary admission status ( Conclusion and contribution: Social support plays an important role in the management of patients with major neurocognitive disorder. The findings in this study highlight healthcare shortages and a need for adequate placement facilities in South Africa for patients who have no other form of support.