ObjectiveTo investigate the status of activity of daily living and social support for the elderly patients with severe mental disorders in community, and to provide the basis for community care and health services.

MethodsA total of 400 elderly patients with serious mental disorders were sampled randomly, and the Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used for status survey and panel discussion.

ResultsADL screening was done of elderly patients with severe mental disorder in community.The number of patients with significant functional impairment was 34.25%.There was no significant difference between sexes(P > 0.05).The results of ADL screening with different ages and educational levels were different (P < 0.01).People with multiple chronic somatic diseases were found to have more impairment of their daily life function.The total score of social support assessment was (31.81±3.82).Objective support score was (7.10±2.09), the score of subjective support was (16.81±2.74), the score of availability of support was (7.84±2.07), lower than the general elderly in the community(P < 0.01).There were significant differences in the scores of social support assessment among the elderly patients with different living conditions(P < 0.01).Panel discussion confirmed the findings in this regard.

ConclusionElderly patients with mental disorders in the community are seriously impaired in their daily life function and the results of social support evaluation are low.Attention should be paid to the maintenance and rehabilitation of the daily life function for these vulnerable groups, and social support should be provided.