The elderly offender: an 11-year survey of referrals to a regional forensic psychiatric service

The elderly offender remains under-researched, with few or no published data on elderly referrals to the medium secure forensic service in the UK. Our aim was to generate data describing the characteristics of elderly offenders, to review whether the complex needs of such patients were being suitably assessed from an holistic perspective and to produce assessment guidelines for elderly forensic referrals. We identified elderly referrals retrospectively and scrutinized their medical notes. We found that 66% of referrals came from solicitors, with sexual offending being the most common offence in 56% of cases. There was no diagnosis of mental disorder in 56%, dementia being the most common diagnosis in 19%. There was poor use of diagnostic tools and investigations in the assessment process. An integrated approach to assessment and management between the forensic and old age psychiatric services is advocated. We have no declaration of interest to make.