Residents in aged care facilities across South Western Sydney will now have access to improved mental health support after SWSPHN commissioned Parramatta Mission to deliver new psychological treatment services for residents with mild to moderate symptoms of common mental illness.
Why have we commissioned these services?
It is estimated that up to 52 per cent of older adults in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) experience symptoms of depression, and fewer than 1 per cent receive psychological support. Experience with other initiatives such as the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Better Access Initiative, suggests that up to half of this group of older people with mild to moderate depression may wish to receive mental health services if they were available to them. The new services are intended to enable residents of these facilities with mental illness to access mental health services similar to those available in the community which, in the past, have not been routinely available to older people living in RACFs.
When will the services be available?
The services are available now via telehealth. Initially, there will be a focus on engagement with RACFs and staff capacity building as well as individual telehealth support options.
Who can access the services/what is the eligibility criteria?
The services are intended to target people with a diagnosed mental illness who are residents of residential aged care. The new services are expected to primarily target residents with mild to moderate symptoms of common mental illness. However, residents with severe mental illness who are not more appropriately managed by a State or Territory Government Older Persons Mental Health Service, and who would benefit from psychological therapy, are not excluded. The services also target people who are assessed as at-risk of mental illness. Flexibility is important as mental health needs can be highly changeable in vulnerable older adults and it may not always be possible to obtain an early diagnosis.
Is there support for people who don’t speak English as a first language?
A free Telephone Interpreter Service will be available to support residents from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds to access mental health treatment services in their preferred language.
Are the services suitable for people with disabilities/dementia?
A person with co-morbid mental health issues alongside dementia or with a disability, will be eligible.
How can people access the services?
The intake processes will be tailored to meet the unique needs of each RACF. A GP referral is not necessary and self-referrals and/or relative/carer referrals will be accepted and assessed.
Where will these services be available?
Parramatta Mission will be engaging with RACFs in the early stages of implementation and the services will be rolled out across the region.
What should service-users expect?
The services will include individual psychological therapy as needed, group sessions and RACF staff capacity building activities, including mental health understanding through education sessions and Older Persons Mental Health First Aid Training to give aged care staff an insight to residents’ needs.
What should health professionals caring for the resident expect/ need to know?
Parramatta Mission will develop and implement a GP engagement plan which will establish an integrated treatment team involving RACF staff, treating clinical team and the resident GP.
For more information, please contact Rhonda Simpson at rhonda.simpson@swsphn.com.au or phone 0499 055 231.