Older People
Although most older people live independently or with only a little support at home, for some mental illness can be a problem. The most common conditions requiring professional help are depression and dementia. Other mental health problems include obsessional disorders, psychoses, phobias, abnormal grief reaction and substance abuse.
Depression to some degree affects 1 in 7 of the population aged over 65. Most of this can be dealt with in Primary Care but some of these people will require the help of specialist mental health services and access to the full range of treatment for this serious illness.
Dementia is a term used to cover a range of diagnoses which cause progressive deterioration of memory and other aspects of mental functioning. Five percent of people over the age of 65 have a dementing illness and this rises with increasing age to 20% of the over 80's. The commonest cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease.
Inpatient Services
This service provides primarily specialist assessment and treatment for service users with either a functional or organic condition who are in the most acute phase of their illness, and whose circumstances or acute care needs/risk assessments are such that they cannot at the time be treated and supported appropriately at home or in an alternative, less restrictive residential setting. The service is constantly reviewing its approach to Older People with mental health issues in order to meet the developing needs of a changing population. More specialised approaches to different causes of dementia and more socially appropriate treatments to all illnesses encountered in the service are permanent goals of the staff. As the client groups social, historical and physical background changes with each generation the service must change and adapt to meet their needs more appropriately.
Community Services
Who are we?
We are part of the National Health Service and work within Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust. We consist of 5 Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) The teams are based in 5 different localities: Gloucester, Cheltenham, Forest of Dean, Stroud & Cotswolds.
What do we provide?
We offer specialist assessment and treatment in the community for people aged 65 and over who have a mental illness such as depression or anxiety, or a problem with their memory. We also offer a service to those people below the age of 65 with early onset dementia.
Our aim is to develop and maintain a person’s ability to function, and maintain their quality of life. We work in a way which respects a person’s culture, wishes and values. The needs of relatives and carers are recognised and they are offered assessment, education and support.
What do we do?
We offer assessment and treatment of mental health problems. Assessment involves:
- Gaining an understanding of how your problems affect you
- Identifying your strengths & needs
- Devising strategies to help you
- Making recommendations & providing information on which other services or agencies may be of help to you
Following assessment, if further help from our service is appropriate, you will be involved in developing a care plan with one of the team members (your Care Co-ordinator). This will be reviewed regularly with you.
Who refers to the CMHT?
Referrals are taken from the other services within the Partnership Trust, General Practitioners and medical staff in General Hospitals.
When will you be seen & who will see you?
Typically, people referred to the team are seen by one or two team members at home or in an outpatient clinic within three weeks of our receiving the referral letter. Our team members include the following:
Consultant Psychiatrist for Older People
Psychologist
Community Mental Health Nurse
Physiotherapist
Support Worker
Occupational Therapist
Psychiatric Doctors
Gloucester: Fieldview, West Lodge Drive, Gloucester, GL4 7XY Tel: 01452 563136
Cheltenham: Sherbourne House, Charlton Lane Centre, Cheltenham, Glos GL53 9DZ Tel: 01242 272148
Forest of Dean: Colliers Court, Latimer Lane, Cinderford, Glos GL14 2QA Tel: 01594 598080
Stroud: Weavers Croft, Field road, Stroud, Glos GL52 2HZ Tel: 01453 562160
Cirencester & Cotswolds: Baunton ward, Cirencester Hospital, Tetbury Road, Cirencester, Glos GL7 1UY Tel: 08454 222709
Acting Programme Manager: Jan Furniaux Tel: 01242 272005
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