International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 12(4), April 1997, pp.470-473.
Publisher:
Wiley
The authors wished to determine how much carers from different settings caring for patients with dementia knew about the disorder and elicit their main concerns about the disease. Carers in contact with an Alzheimer's support group were the most knowledgeable and carers in the preassessment group were the least knowledgeable on the subject of dementia. While carers in the postassessment group, this difference failed to reach statistical significance. The study highlights the need for elderly mental health teams to evaluate their methods of dissemination of knowledge to carers, develop educational packages for carers and evaluate their effectiveness.
The authors wished to determine how much carers from different settings caring for patients with dementia knew about the disorder and elicit their main concerns about the disease. Carers in contact with an Alzheimer's support group were the most knowledgeable and carers in the preassessment group were the least knowledgeable on the subject of dementia. While carers in the postassessment group, this difference failed to reach statistical significance. The study highlights the need for elderly mental health teams to evaluate their methods of dissemination of knowledge to carers, develop educational packages for carers and evaluate their effectiveness.
Subject terms:
mental health services, older people, access to information, Alzheimers disease, carers, dementia;
The author, a musician and mental health nursing student, explains how music enhanced the quality of life of a woman with Alzheimer's disease.
The author, a musician and mental health nursing student, explains how music enhanced the quality of life of a woman with Alzheimer's disease.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, music therapy, older people, students, therapies, therapy and treatment, complementary therapies, communication, dementia;
Positive Publications/ Anglia Polytechnic University, Faculty of Health and Social Work
Describes the Lewisham Case Management Scheme which was one of a number of care management schemes studied by the Personal Social Services Research Unit. Summarises the Unit's findings which show that providing specialist domiciliary services for people with dementia can benefit service users and carers.
Describes the Lewisham Case Management Scheme which was one of a number of care management schemes studied by the Personal Social Services Research Unit. Summarises the Unit's findings which show that providing specialist domiciliary services for people with dementia can benefit service users and carers.
Subject terms:
home care, mental health services, older people, quality of life, carers, case management, dementia, evaluation;
Aging and Mental Health, 1(3), August 1997, pp.243-247.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Reports on a cross-sectional comparative study examining the demographic, social and clinical characteristics of Indian subcontinent origin elders with mental illness. Of the patients in the study, 17 per cent were of Indian subcontinent origin compared to 7 per cent in the general population. Comparison with indigenous patients revealed that ethnic elders were younger, had more children, had more people living in their household and were more likely to have schizophrenia. There were no differences with regard to use of health and social service resources between the ethnic and indigenous elders. Findings do not support the traditional myth that ethnic elders do not adequately access services and that these individuals are primarily cared for by extended families.
Reports on a cross-sectional comparative study examining the demographic, social and clinical characteristics of Indian subcontinent origin elders with mental illness. Of the patients in the study, 17 per cent were of Indian subcontinent origin compared to 7 per cent in the general population. Comparison with indigenous patients revealed that ethnic elders were younger, had more children, had more people living in their household and were more likely to have schizophrenia. There were no differences with regard to use of health and social service resources between the ethnic and indigenous elders. Findings do not support the traditional myth that ethnic elders do not adequately access services and that these individuals are primarily cared for by extended families.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, older people, schizophrenia, severe mental health problems, social care provision, South Asian people, demographics;
Reports on how dementia poses problems of communication, but how an author, John Killick, has pioneered a unique way of allowing people with dementia to tell their own stories.
Reports on how dementia poses problems of communication, but how an author, John Killick, has pioneered a unique way of allowing people with dementia to tell their own stories.
Subject terms:
memory, mental health services, older people, therapies, therapy and treatment, change management, communication, dementia;
Journal of Mental Health, 6(4), August 1997, pp.331-334.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
London
Critically reviews the Green paper on mental health published by the last Conservative government in 1997, and puts forward an alternative policy agenda.
Critically reviews the Green paper on mental health published by the last Conservative government in 1997, and puts forward an alternative policy agenda.
Subject terms:
joint commissioning, mental health, mental health problems, mental health services, older people, policy, primary care, severe mental health problems, social services, community care, children, health authorities, government policy;
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 12(5), May 1997, pp.548-522.
Publisher:
Wiley
With increasing longevity, the number of elderly patients with psychiatric or learning disabilities is likely to increase. This article discusses the findings of research to examine the degree of overlap of symptoms and needs of these two groups of patients, which may allow for their care within the same service. Results suggest that there are some similarities between these groups of patients and that for some patients the same services may be utilized. Concludes that this could reduce the cost of care in the community and entail more economical use of the facilities and staff. Also found that the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales proved to be a concise and simple instrument, which could become a useful tool in monitoring the outcome of healthcare in longstay patients.
With increasing longevity, the number of elderly patients with psychiatric or learning disabilities is likely to increase. This article discusses the findings of research to examine the degree of overlap of symptoms and needs of these two groups of patients, which may allow for their care within the same service. Results suggest that there are some similarities between these groups of patients and that for some patients the same services may be utilized. Concludes that this could reduce the cost of care in the community and entail more economical use of the facilities and staff. Also found that the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales proved to be a concise and simple instrument, which could become a useful tool in monitoring the outcome of healthcare in longstay patients.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, long stay care, mental health, mental health problems, mental health services, needs, older people, patients, social care provision, assessment, community care;
British Journal of Psychiatry, 170, April 1997, pp.317-320.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
In addition to clinical and service factors, planners need to take account of the influence of demographic variables, especially ethnicity, on access to mental health care. This article assesses the demographic determinants of access to mental health care in a deprived inner-city area in the West Birmingham Health District. Results found considerable differences in access to mental health care, particularly according to ethnicity. The major impediment to Asians accessing care occurred at the interface between primary and secondary care, whereas the most striking feature for the Afro Caribbean population was the poor level of case recognition by GPs. Concludes that purchasers and providers need to address differential patterns of use when developing and reviewing services.
In addition to clinical and service factors, planners need to take account of the influence of demographic variables, especially ethnicity, on access to mental health care. This article assesses the demographic determinants of access to mental health care in a deprived inner-city area in the West Birmingham Health District. Results found considerable differences in access to mental health care, particularly according to ethnicity. The major impediment to Asians accessing care occurred at the interface between primary and secondary care, whereas the most striking feature for the Afro Caribbean population was the poor level of case recognition by GPs. Concludes that purchasers and providers need to address differential patterns of use when developing and reviewing services.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, older people, referral, urban areas, African Caribbean people, Asian people, black and minority ethnic people, demographics, ethnicity, general practitioners;
Presents a comprehensive assessment of the mental health needs of Londoners and shows that these are greater than in other parts of the country. Provides strong evidence that these needs are not being met adequately by current mental health services, and demonstrates that they are working beyond their capacity to cope. Includes sections on: the sociodemographic context; special areas of need for mental health services; mental health services for older people; child and adolescent services in London; substance misuse services; HIV/AIDS related mental health services; mentally disordered offenders; the homeless in London; services in primary care; black and minority ethnic people; levels of in-patient and residential provision; structure and functioning of services; and costs.
Presents a comprehensive assessment of the mental health needs of Londoners and shows that these are greater than in other parts of the country. Provides strong evidence that these needs are not being met adequately by current mental health services, and demonstrates that they are working beyond their capacity to cope. Includes sections on: the sociodemographic context; special areas of need for mental health services; mental health services for older people; child and adolescent services in London; substance misuse services; HIV/AIDS related mental health services; mentally disordered offenders; the homeless in London; services in primary care; black and minority ethnic people; levels of in-patient and residential provision; structure and functioning of services; and costs.
Subject terms:
HIV AIDS, homeless people, homelessness, mental health problems, mental health services, mentally disordered offenders, needs, older people, primary care, social policy, substance misuse, young people, alcohol misuse, black and minority ethnic people, children, demographics, drug misuse, financing;
Looks at the future of social work in the United states and includes chapters on: demographic changes and their implications; the future economic landscape; the impact and implications of multiculturalism; poverty and postmodernity; social work in international context; nonprofit organisations, social policy and public welfare; the future of child welfare; juvenile justice; family violence; social work and the workplace; retirement income; social work and healthcare; mental health services; prevention; community organisation; occupational social work practice; recognising the role of religious congregations and denominations in social service provision; social workers as advocates for older people; social work and philosophy; social work education; integrating research and practice; social work and psychiatry; ethical issues for social work; social work and social responsibility; the future of the social work profession; and international social work at the millennium.
Looks at the future of social work in the United states and includes chapters on: demographic changes and their implications; the future economic landscape; the impact and implications of multiculturalism; poverty and postmodernity; social work in international context; nonprofit organisations, social policy and public welfare; the future of child welfare; juvenile justice; family violence; social work and the workplace; retirement income; social work and healthcare; mental health services; prevention; community organisation; occupational social work practice; recognising the role of religious congregations and denominations in social service provision; social workers as advocates for older people; social work and philosophy; social work education; integrating research and practice; social work and psychiatry; ethical issues for social work; social work and social responsibility; the future of the social work profession; and international social work at the millennium.
Subject terms:
medical social work, medical social workers, mental health problems, mental health services, older people, policy formulation, poverty, psychiatric social work, prevention, religions, research ethics, social policy, social work, social work education, social work theories, social workers, voluntary organisations, youth justice, advocacy, black and minority ethnic people, child protection, community development, demographics, employment, ethics, health care;