A Woman who Made a Difference: An Interview with Nori Graham

2018 ◽  
pp. 189-201
Author(s):  
Amanda Thompsell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Women Doctors ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
Person Account

This chapter describes an interview with Dr Nori Graham, a key figure in older people’s mental health, former Chairman of the Alzheimer’s Society and of Alzheimer’s Disease International, and an inspiration to generations of doctors. This reflective interview provides a first-person account of the development of mental health services for older people over the last 40 years, paying tribute to some of the pioneers and architects of the astonishing growth of old age psychiatry services during this period, and comparing the challenges then and now. Nori Graham also provides insights and advice on how to develop a successful career, and on dealing with the challenges for women doctors with children. Finally, she describes her work in helping to build up the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Disease International, both of which expanded considerably during her period as Chairman.

Old age mental health services in England: implementing the National Service Framework for Older People

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Tucker ◽  
Robert Baldwin ◽  
Jane Hughes ◽  
Susan Benbow ◽  
Andrew Barker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
National Service ◽  
National Service Framework ◽  
Service Framework

scholarly journals Forget Me Not: Mental Health Services for Older People

2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 403-404
Author(s):  
Susan M. Benbow ◽  
Sean P. Lennon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Service Planning ◽  
National Service ◽  
National Service Framework ◽  
Service Framework

The exclusion of services for older people from the Mental Health National Service Framework and the delays in publication of the National Service Framework for the elderly have caused many old age psychiatrists to be concerned that, as in many other areas of health service planning and provision, the needs of older people are not being adequately addressed by Government and health service planners. The recent Audit Commission Report, entitled Forget Me Not: Mental Health Services for Older People†, gives us much encouragement that the needs of older adults have not been forgotten. Its recent publication should provide an authoritative focus, which will help old age psychiatrists, their multi-disciplinary and management colleagues and commissioners of services to push forward improvements in services for older people with mental illnesses.

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.

Principles of service provision in old age psychiatry

2020 ◽  
pp. 281-306
Author(s):  
Tom Dening ◽  
Kuruvilla George
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Liaison Psychiatry ◽  
Memory Assessment ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
Consultation Liaison Psychiatry

Globally increasing numbers of older people bring both challenges and opportunities for old age psychiatry services. This chapter outlines the history, underlying principles, and policy context for contemporary mental health services for older people. It discusses components of services, including community health teams, memory assessment services, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and in-patient mental health care, as well as newer types of service, such as crisis teams and outreach to care homes. Other recent developments include various models of case management and emphasis on post-diagnostic support. Equally important are issues of equality and access, and the chapter covers several key areas, such as age, gender, sexual orientation, religion and spirituality, and rurality. Major challenges to old age psychiatry come from limited resources and non-recognition of the distinct needs of older adults, as well as the demands of the growing older population, advances in science and technology, and the need to attract talented psychiatrists into this field.

Clinicians' attitudes to spirituality in old age psychiatry

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 962-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Lawrence ◽  
Julia Head ◽  
Georgina Christodoulou ◽  
Biljana Andonovska ◽  
Samina Karamat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
Chaplaincy Service

Background: The aim of this survey is to investigate professional attitudes to the presence and value of spiritual care from Old Age Psychiatrists.Method: All registered members of the Faculty of the Psychiatry of Old Age in the United Kingdom were asked to complete a 21-question semi-structured questionnaire. The first mail shot took place in 2002 and the second mail shot to non-respondents in 2003. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out on the answers received.Results: The response rate was 46%. The majority of respondents (92%) recognize the importance of spiritual dimensions of care for older people with mental health needs and about a quarter of respondents appear to consider referring patients to the chaplaincy service. In contrast, integration of spiritual advisors within the assessment and management of individual cases is rare.Conclusions: Opinions vary as to whether provision of spiritual care should become widely available to older people with mental health needs who are admitted to hospital. Old age psychiatrists recognize that awareness of spiritual dimensions may be important for their patients. They seem less clear about the role of spiritual advisors and how NHS multidisciplinary clinical teams and spiritual and pastoral care services can be best integrated. Much work needs to be done on developing effective training and operational policies in this area.

scholarly journals Old age mental health services in Southern Balkans: Features, geospatial distribution, current needs, and future perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Alexopoulos ◽  
A. Novotni ◽  
G. Novotni ◽  
T. Vorvolakos ◽  
A. Vratsista ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Clinical Teaching ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Term Care

Abstract Background Healthcare services are increasingly confronted with challenges related to old age mental disorders. The survey aimed to provide an overview of existing psychogeriatric services in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and North Macedonia. Methods After identification of psychogeriatric units across the four countries, their head physicians were asked to provide data on their clinical, teaching, and research activity, as well as staff composition. Moreover, the attitudes of head physicians to current needs and future service development were explored. Results A total of 15 psychogeriatric units were identified (3 in Bulgaria, 8 in Greece, and 4 in North Macedonia). Results show wide variation regarding the location, team size and composition, service availability, numbers of patients attending, and inpatient treatment length. Most head physicians underscored the urgent need for breakthroughs in the graduate and postgraduate education in psychogeriatrics of medical and nonmedical professionals, as well as in the interconnection of their units with community primary healthcare services and long-term care facilities for seniors via telemedicine. They would welcome the development of national standards for psychogeriatric units, potentially embodying clear pointers for action. A number of head physicians advocated the development of nationwide old age mental health registries. Conclusions Regional disparities in resources and services for seniors’ mental health services were unveiled. These data may enrich the dialogue on optimizing psychogeriatric services through planning future cross-border collaborations mainly based on telemedicine services, especially in the era of the novel coronavirus pandemic, and training/education in psychogeriatrics of mental health professionals.

Improving Mental Health Services for Older People

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 7-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Hall ◽  
Helen Waldock ◽  
Chris Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Older People
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