Australia is an ageing population. There is an increasing percentage of elderly . We now have more illnesses, more surgery and more medication than ever. In some cases, this makes for a healthier aged population. In other cases , there are now more people with chronic illnesses, iatrogenic illnesses, drug interactions, dementia and loneliness issues as they live longer, often outliving their family.
Our society also has greater expectations, perhaps falsely, to live healthier lives, longer. It appears the elderly, and their younger relatives are unaware that some illnesses are chronic, and death is inevitable.
In this setting, the demand for nursing home beds is rapidly rising. The number of people in nursing homes is increasing at a pace, some would say beyond the capabilities of our treatment facilities to handle. The elderly are often unable to access their General Practitioner and/ or specialists for treatment due to limited finances, immobility issues, and illness problems.
Various National bodies have acknowledged the access difficulties the elderly encounter with treatment of their complex illnesses. Ballina ACAT is the recipient of a grant to bring psychiatric specialist treatment to those elderly most in need in nursing homes and the community. It is called The Psychogeriatric Outreach Program / Clinic
This fortnightly clinic consists of a visiting psychogeriatrican and nurse practitioner. The service is primarily aimed at providing the general practitioner with treatment advice for their patients with severe, complex acute / chronic illnesses. These can include psychiatric illnesses of severe anxiety, depression, psychosis, cognitive decline (dementia and its associated problems) or medication interactions. Behavioural issues in nursing homes are a frequent reason for referral to the service. Patients are variously assessed in the Ballina ACAT rooms, in their homes, or in their nursing home.
The service is not widely known and if underutilised is at risk of being withdrawn.
To arrange an appointment for your patients, please contact Ballina ACAT , ph 02 6620 6222.
