Dialogue and challenge among different specialities

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 2059-2059
Author(s):  
A.R. Atti
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Case Manager ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
Psychiatric Nurses ◽  
Worldwide Phenomenon ◽  
Socio Economic Impact ◽  
Care Of Elderly ◽  
Medical Advances

IntroductionThanks to social, technological, and medical advances occurred during the last century, the aging of the population has become a worldwide phenomenon (Kinsella, 2002). The high socio-economic impact of this demographic transition has recently stimulated a growing interest for the aging process (Lunenfeld, 2008) and elderly mental health has been receiving increasing attention (Mental Health in Older People. Consensus, 2008).ObjectiveOld age psychiatry, or psychogeriatric, deals with psychiatric conditions that predate the ageing process such as schizophrenia or depression, and with diseases occurring later in life like dementia and other cognitive disorders. To cope with the increased workload due to older people, Psychiatric Services are required to provide multidisciplinary, comprehensive and integrated care.AimsTo investigate the attitude of Bologna's Psychiatric Services in the care of elderly affected by psychiatric disorders.MethodsSelf-completed questionnaires administered to psychiatrists.ResultsPsychogeriatric is the second main priority of psychiatry for the new millennium. Psychiatrists working in liason-consultation settings take care of around 20 elderly patients per weeek. Sedation, insomnia and resistant-depression treatment are the most frequent interventions required to psychiatrists by colleagues of other specialities. Psychiatrists report feelings of un-satisfaction and worries for potential drugs side-effects. They “don't like much” dealing with elderly people especially with patients affected by un-treatable conditions such as dementia (narcissistic wound?).ConclusionAccessible and responsive services working in liason with other medical specialists, gero-psychiatric nurses, case manager and social workers might be a good response to the increasing needs of elderly with mental health disorders.

scholarly journals Diversity in older people's mental health services: black and minority ethnic groups or the universality of the rainbow?

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-177
Author(s):  
Claire Hilton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
National Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Royal College ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
Minority Ethnic Groups ◽  
Minority Ethnic

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Old Age Faculty withdrew College Report CR156, Psychiatric Services for Black and Minority Ethnic Older People (Shah et al., 2009) in 2014. This is in line with recent United Kingdom (UK) government National Health Service proposals and the range of diversity encompassed by the Equality Act (2010). The Act refers to “protected characteristics” including age, disability, religion or belief, race (based on colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins), and sexual orientation.

Mental Health of Older People

1992 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-54
Author(s):  
Steven H. Zarit
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older People

Loneliness, social isolation and cardiovascular risk

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackson Alun ◽  
Barbara Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cardiac Events ◽  
Patients At Risk ◽  
Traditional Risk Factors

Loneliness and social isolation are increasingly being acknowledged as risk factors for both physical and mental health problems. Recent statistics demonstrate that loneliness and isolation are on the rise internationally, to the point of being classed as an epidemic. In this paper, the authors outline some of the recent research linking loneliness and isolation to significant chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes; mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression; cognitive disorders and dementia. Isolation has also been shown to compromise recovery after acute cardiac events, being associated with increased hospital readmission and premature death. Indeed, isolation has now been identified as a risk factor equivalent in effect to traditional risk factors such as smoking, hypertension and obesity. While distinguishing between objective and subjective indicators of isolation, the authors highlight the complexity of this phenomenon, both in terms of definition and measurement, as well as the interplay between subjective and objective indicators. Important clinical implications for health professionals working with cardiac patients are also proposed, in terms of screening for isolation, and possible interventions to support patients at risk of isolation. The aim of the current article is to emphasise the importance of acknowledging loneliness and isolation as key risk factors requiring urgent attention, both in research and in clinical practice.

scholarly journals Service innovations

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (09) ◽  
pp. 346-348
Author(s):  
Chris Simpson ◽  
Prasanna De Silva
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Older People ◽  
High Quality ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Multi Disciplinary Team

The increase in older people in the UK will increase the need for mental health services to run efficient, high-quality services. Multi-disciplinary team assessments, although not new, provide a method of increasing the capacity to see referrals. Two similar systems of multi-disciplinary team assessments from North Yorkshire are reported with evidence of improvement in quality.

scholarly journals Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison between Older and Younger People

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7871
Author(s):  
Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan ◽  
Yoshihiko Kadoya
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Living Condition ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Subjective Health Status ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Mental Health Support ◽  
Health Support ◽  
Precautionary Measures

The precautionary measures and uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have serious psychological impacts on peoples’ mental health. We used longitudinal data from Hiroshima University to investigate loneliness before and during the pandemic among older and younger people in Japan. We provide evidence that loneliness among both older and younger people increased considerably during the pandemic. Although loneliness among younger people is more pervasive, the magnitude of increase in loneliness during the pandemic is higher among older people. Our logit regression analysis shows that age, subjective health status, and feelings of depression are strongly associated with loneliness before and during the pandemic. Moreover, household income and financial satisfaction are associated with loneliness among older people during the pandemic while gender, marital status, living condition, and depression are associated with loneliness among younger people during the pandemic. The evidence of increasing loneliness during the pandemic is concerning for a traditionally well-connected and culturally collectivist society such as Japan. As loneliness has a proven connection with both physical and mental health, we suggest immediate policy interventions to provide mental health support for lonely people so they feel more cared for, secure, and socially connected.

The ‘loneliness pandemic’: implications for gerontological nursing

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 652-655
Author(s):  
Carlos Laranjeira
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Gerontological Nursing

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled states to limit free movement, in order to protect at-risk and more vulnerable groups, particularly older adults. Due to old age or debilitating chronic diseases, this group is also more vulnerable to loneliness (perceived discrepancy between actual and desired social relationships) and social isolation (feeling that one does not belong to society). This forced isolation has negative consequences for the health of older people, particularly their mental health. This is an especially challenging time for gerontological nursing, but it is also an opportunity for professionals to combat age stereotypes reinforced with COVID-19, to urge the measurement of loneliness and social isolation, and to rethink how to further adjust interventions in times of crisis, such as considering technology-mediated interventions in these uncertain times.

Challenging care work: General practitioners’ perspectives on caring for young adults with complex psychosocial problems

2019 ◽  
pp. 136345931987410
Author(s):  
Julie Høgsgaard Andersen ◽  
Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen ◽  
Susanne Reventlow ◽  
Annette Sofie Davidsen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Care Work ◽  
Psychiatric Nurses ◽  
Provision Of Care

The international literature shows that primary care is well placed to address mental health problems in young people, but that primary care professionals experience a range of challenges in this regard. In Denmark, young adults who have complex psychosocial problems, and who are not in education or work, cause political and academic concern. They are also in regular contact with their general practitioners, the Danish municipalities and psychiatric services. However, little is known about general practitioners’ perspectives on caring for this vulnerable group of patients. In this article, we investigate how general practitioners’ care work is shaped by the bureaucratic management of care in a complex infrastructure network comprising the general practitioners, psychiatry, the municipalities and the young adults. The analysis is based on interviews and focus groups with general practitioners, psychiatric nurses and social workers. We employ Tronto’s concept of care and the concept of boundary work as a theoretical framework. We argue that general practitioners strive to provide care, but they are challenged by the following: contested diagnostic interpretations and the bureaucratic significance of diagnoses for the provision of care from psychiatry and the municipalities, systemic issues with handling intertwined social and mental health problems, and the young adults’ difficulties with accessing and receiving available care.

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