scholarly journals Optimizing mental health in long-term care homes

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1023-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Conn ◽  
John Snowdon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Discussion Groups ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Good Mental Health ◽  
High Prevalence

The high prevalence of mental disorders among residents of long-term care (LTC) homes is highlighted in the paper by Seitz et al. in this special issue of International Psychogeriatrics. The International Psychogeriatric Association's Task Force on Mental Health Services in LTC Homes was formed in 2005 with two goals: (1) to gather information and share views from diverse countries and settings about how best to restore or ensure good mental health in LTC settings; and (2) to support and strengthen mental health services in the LTC sector. Since its formation, groups of members of the Task Force have visited residential facilities in Stockholm, Lisbon, Istanbul, Osaka, Dublin, Montreal and the Netherlands. Members have also reported on visits to LTC homes in the U.S.A., U.K., Korea, Thailand, South Africa and Nigeria. Further visits have been arranged during the IPA's meeting in Spain in September 2010. Information has also been provided by members in discussion groups and in response to a Task Force survey about facilities in various other countries.

scholarly journals The use of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) to inform discharge and transfer decisions in community mental health services

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Prowse ◽  
Tim Coombs
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Term Care

Discharge from public community mental health services has proven difficult for mental health workers and managers. Mental illness can often be long term, with ongoing disability, requiring a need for corresponding long-term care. Community mental health services are now becoming recovery focused and are recognising the need for alternative management arrangements for individuals with long-term care needs. There are, however few tools to assist in the decision making about discharge or transfer of care between community mental health teams. This article describes a quality improvement project to develop a flag for mental health workers to prompt decisions regarding discharge and transfer using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS). Relevant literature and HoNOS data collected as part of routine clinical practice were reviewed to develop the flag. The implementation process is described along with plans for future developments.

Principles of good care for long-term care facilities

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1072-1083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggie C. Gibson ◽  
Mary W. Carter ◽  
Edward Helmes ◽  
Anna-Karin Edberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Good Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

ABSTRACTBackground: The International Psychogeriatric Association Task Force on Mental Health Services in Long-Term Care Facilities aims to support and strengthen mental health services in the long-term care sector. The purpose of this paper is to identify broad principles that may underpin the drive towards meeting the mental health needs of residents of long-term care facilities and their families, as well as to enhance the overall delivery of residential care services.Methods: Principles of good care are extrapolated from an analysis of international consensus documents and existing guidelines and discussed in relation to the research and practice literature.Results: Although the attention to principles is limited, this review reveals an emerging consensus that: (1) residential care should be situated within a continuum of services which are accessible on the basis of need; (2) there should be an explicit focus on quality of care in long-term care facilities; and (3) quality of life for the residents of these facilities should be a primary objective. We take a broad perspective on the challenges associated with actualizing each of these principles, taking into consideration key issues for families, facilities, systems and societies.Conclusions: Recommendations for practice, policy and advocacy to establish an internationally endorsed principles-based framework for the evolution and development of good mental health care within long-term care facilities are provided.

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