KEY POINTS
* Older patients with schizophrenia whether of
very late or early onset are a vulnerable group
with high levels of psychopathology.
* Older patients with schizophrenia, especially of
very late onset, have high levels of hearing
impairment.
* Older people with schizophrenia are socially
isolated.
* Although numbers of these patients may not be
large in any one catchment area their complex
needs support the idea of specialist services to
care for them.