Seniors Services, Mental Health
The multi-disciplinary team of Seniors Mental Health provides assessment, consultation and time-limited treatment. Our clinicians work together with the senior and family members to identify the problem and provide treatment, education and support. Clinicians communicate with the family doctor to ensure that care can be continued after Seniors Mental Health is no longer required. In addition, we strive as much as possible to provide care for seniors in their community or home setting.
What Services are Provided?
Outreach Services
The Outreach component of the service provides assessment, consultation and where required, direct care to individuals in their homes. The Outreach staff work with the patient and family to provide information, education and support to better manage the mental health issue.
The Outreach staff also provide education to caregivers, health care professionals and the community to promote mental health for seniors. The incidence of mental illness in the older population is high. People living in the community and in long term care facilities are at risk for mental illness. When individuals, family members, care givers and health care professionals are well informed about the illnesses and the treatment options, much can be done to improve the health and the quality of life for seniors.
Outpatient Services
For seniors who are mobile and able to attend appointments at the hospital, we offer specialized seniors mental health services through our out-patient clinics held regularly in several locations - Veterans Memorial Hospital (Geriatric Medicine clinic area), 6th floor Abbie Lane Building, the Mount Hope and Purdy buildings at the Nova Scotia Hospital. We also have regular clinics held in several long term care facilities throughout the Capital District.
Healthy Living Program
Our Healthy Living Program has developed primary prevention resource materials and caregiver support materials. Mental health promotion and illness prevention are important to reduce risks of mental illness in late life. Caregiver support and education is also valuable, given the contributions caregivers make to the mental health care of seniors, and the risks caregivers face for stress and depression themselves.
In addition to primary prevention, we also offer secondary prevention and tertiary intervention for depressive and anxiety disorders in late life through psycho-educational and therapeutic treatment groups for seniors with depression and/or anxiety. These groups are time-limited, therefore, individuals who participate in groups will continue to be followed by their family doctor or mental health professional.
In-Patient Care
If mental health needs of a senior cannot be met through the community services, admission to the in-patient unit might be required. Willow Hall is a 19 bed in-patient unit specializing in the mental health care of seniors. The unit is located in the Mount Hope Building on the campus of The Nova Scotia Hospital in Dartmouth. Willow Hall is an acute care unit serving the most vulnerable seniors from Capital District and the province.
Seniors admitted to Willow Hall are provided comprehensive psychiatric and physical assessment and active treatment. The inpatient team works with the patient and family to address the illness, identify and meet education needs, provide support, plan for appropriate discharge from hospital and make follow-up care arrangements. Follow-up may be with the family doctor, a specialist or with the Seniors Outreach Team.
Telehealth and Teleeducation
Our team offers a CME-accredited monthly Teleeducation program to the other mental health districts on topics in seniors mental health. Since specialized geropsychiatry services are currently not available in any other district in Nova Scotia beside Capital, these other districts can access a specialty consultation from our team through Telehealth.
Education, Training and Capacity-Building
The Seniors Mental Health Service is part of the academic centre of the Department of Psychiatry and Dalhousie University and is the only training centre in geriatric psychiatry in the province and region. In addition to providing geriatric psychiatry training to physicians, nurses, social workers and other learners, the service provides workshops, education sessions and consultation to front line care givers across all relevant settings. Education of health care professionals and informal caregivers about the mental health needs and treatment options for seniors is another role of our team.
Access to the Seniors Service
Referral through the family physician is the preferred option. However, other health care professionals, family members and individuals may contact the service and receive direction for access to the Seniors Mental Health Service. A brief referral form should be completed by health care professionals and faxed to the service.
