News, reports and resources
Learning together – a collaborative case discussion
This webinar was chaired by Professor Linda Gask, Consultant Psychiatrist and is a collaborative case discussion between GPs and Old Age Psychiatrists, focusing on:
- Anxiety and depression – Professor Carolyn-Chew Graham (Academic GP) and Dr Suhana Ahmed (Consultant Psychiatrist)
- Risk assessment – Dr Ruth Thompson (GP) and Dr Suhana Ahmed (Consultant Psychiatrist)
- Alcohol – Dr Tony Rao (Consultant Psychiatrist) and Dr Ruth Thompson (GP)
- Sleep disturbance – Professor Hazel Everitt (Academic GP) and Dr Mani Krishnan (Consultant Psychiatrist)
You can find additional resources below:
- The UK SHARD Trial of Behavioral Activation – The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
- NHS: How to get to sleep
- Antidepressants for insomnia in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Everitt, H., Baldwin, D., Stuart, B., Lipinska, G., Mayers, A., Malizia, A. L., Manson, C., & Wilson, S. (2018). (5), [CD010753].
- GPs' management strategies for patients with insomnia: a survey and qualitative interview study. Everitt, H., McDermott, L., Leydon, G., Yules, H., Baldwin,
D., & Little, P. (2014). British Journal of General Practice, 64(619), e112-e119.
- Sleepio
Community Mental Health Transformation webinar, 26 April 2021
This webinar discusses what is proposed in the Community Mental Health Transformation plan and suggests practical tips in implementing the plan. This video features the following speakers:
- Dr Mani Krishnan chairs the webinar
- Dr Amanda Thompsell, National Speciality Advisor for Older Adults’ Mental Health at NHSE & I, discusses the details of the plan and she explains whom to contact to find out about your local plan. She runs through some of the steps needed to be taken and share an example of how co-production works in practice. She also discusses with you some of the possible enablers.
- Dr Josie Jenkinson facilitates the Q&A session
The slides from this webinar are available to download.
You can find additional resources below:
Your local Integrated Care Systems (ICSs)
Examples of how colleagues are engaging with CMH Transformation
NHSE&I guidance to funding: Bottom of page 22 mentions aligning with Ageing Well and Frailty NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan, 2019/20 - 2023/24: The NHS Implementation Plan mentions aligning with Ageing Well on page 16, page 26 and page 36 and page 37
Personality disorders in later life: epidemiology, presentation and management – Ayesha Bangash, BJPsych Advances (2020), vol. 26, 219–220 doi: 10.1192/bja.2020.19
Late-onset personality disorder: a condition still steeped in ignorance – Peter Tyrer and Robert Howard, BJPsych Advances (2020), vol. 26, 219–220 doi: 10.1192/bja.2020.19
The Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults, NHS England and NHS Improvement and the National Collaborating Central for Mental Health, September 2019
Action required to tackle health inequalities in latest phase of COVID-19 response and recovery, NHSE, 2021
View the main College resources on COVID-19.
- COVID-19 planning for Old Age Psychiatrists: statement from the Faculty, 20 March 2020
- Useful tips on the Covid-19 vaccine for people with dementia: produced by DementiaUK, December 2020
- The role of integrated mental and community physical healthcare trusts in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: article by Derek Tracy, Anna Forest and Benjamin R Underwood, Cambridge University Press, 1 June 2020
- COVID-19 in older adults infographic: produced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, May 2020
- Longer incubation period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in older adults. article by Hong T-K. Aging Med. 2020;00:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/agm2.12114 , 22 May 2020
- Memory service assessments: a new way of working: NHSE and NHSI, 27 May 2020
- Guidance on remote working for memory services during COVID-19, produced by NHS London Clinical Networks, 11 May 2020, revised July 2020
- Meeting the Needs of People with Dementia Living in Care Homes during COVID-19 : video produced by Ian Andrew James, Trustwide Pathway Lead for Psychological Intervention at CNTW to support care homes, 1 May 2020
- COVID-19 Care home FAQs: North East & North Cumbria ICS, 3 April 2020
- Dementia leaflet: How to stay well during the Coronavirus outbreak - 5 key messages for people living with dementia: Alzheimer's Society and University of Exeter
- RCPsych in Northern Ireland Psychiatry of Old Age briefing on COVID for meeting at Department of Health: April 2020
- Impact of COVID 19 on the older persons in Northern Ireland: Dr Joseph Kane ST6 in Psychiatry of Old Age and Dr Claire Potter ST4 in Psychiatry of Old Age, April 2020
- Flowchart on prioritising and planning clinical care: Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHSFT, 20 March 2020
- Prompt sheet for phone check-ins for older patients, carers, family members: produced by Nick Bass, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Tower Hamlets Diagnostic Memory Clinic, March 2020
- Flowchart Pharmacological Management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD): by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, March 2020
- Delirium management advice for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in acute trust setting: produced by Dr Josie Jenkinson, Consultant Psychiatrist for older people, ASPH Psychiatric Liaison services, 28 March 2020 (PDF). Adapted for older adults from original guidance compiled by Prof Tayyeb Tahir, Dr Mehrul Hasnain, Dr Ankit Saxena, Dr Radhika Oruganti at University of Wales with reference to the Liverpool Drug Interactions Group.
- COVID-19 resources from the Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto: Clinical guidance, tools, and links for health providers caring for older adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry webinar: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on functional mental health of older adults – Monday 23 November 2020: This webinar highlights emerging research findings and includes case studies of presentations of functional mental health issues in older people related to COVID-19. This video features the following speakers:
- Dr Mani Krishnan welcomes and introduces the speakers
- Dr Suhana Ahmed, Consultant Psychiatrist, South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust, describes some case presentations of functional mental illness in older adults during COVID-19.
- Dr Kapila Sachdev, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, East London NHS Foundation Trust gives a summary of recent research findings on the impact COVID-19 on older people's mental health.
- Dr Josie Jenkinson, Consultant Psychiatrist for Older People, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust talks about research on deliberate self-harm in older people during the coronavirus pandemic and shares preliminary findings.
The slides from this event are available to download.
Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry live update session: Transforming community mental health care provision for older people – 23 June 2020: This video features the following speakers:
- Dr Mani Krishnan welcomes and introduces the speakers
- Dr Amanda Thompsell explains the background to the Community Mental Health Transformation Programme (England) in the current context
Dr Fiona Goudie and James Sutherland from Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS FT, one of the early implementer sites, tell us how they put their proposal together and how it is on the ground. - Viral Kantaria, Programme Manager NHSE&I for Adult Mental Health (Community) gives a summary of his insights on what local communities should consider in their proposals
- Dr Josie Jenkinson hosts a Q & A session with our speakers
The slides from this event are available to download.
Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry – live update session and memory service guidance - 15 May 2020: This video features the following speakers:
- Dr Amanda Thompsell explains the new national guidance on memory clinics, along with a faculty update
- Dr Venkat Muthukrishnan shows how his services have set out to do memory clinic assessments in the current COVID situation
- Dr Juliette Brown & Dr Cate Bailey host an interactive case-based discussion of a patient with a combination of functional and organic presentation - how we assess and manage in COVID social distancing situations
- Dr Mani Krishnan and Dr Josie Jenkinson host a Q & A session with our speakers
The slides from this event are available to download.
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Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry Annual Meeting, 16-17 March 2023, In-person (RCPsych London) and live stream.
The epidemiology and presentation of mental illness in older people is different to younger adults, and older people with mental illness often have a unique and complex set of physical, psychological and social factors complicating their care. For these reasons older people need dedicated inpatient and community mental health teams to look after them.
There is a global history of ageism in the funding and delivery of mental health services for older people. The UK has led the way in developing age-specific services which research has shown improve care in this group. These services are now under threat in the UK by the move to "ageless services". Commissioners and trusts have various reasons to consider this including a misguided belief it may save money or misinterpretation of the Equalities Acts around the UK.
The College is clear that older people need dedicated age-specific mental health services. We have assembled a compendium of evidence to support this below.
If your services are under threat, please look at and use this evidence. Many people have already found it helpful to rebut the move to ageless services.
- 'Ageless' dementia services are an insult to the elderly - The Telegraph
- Development of ageless mental health services - letter
- Criteria for Old Age psychiatry services in the UK
- IPG guest editorial: Wither old age psychiatry?
- JCPMH: Guidance for commissioners of older people’s mental health services
- Letter in The Lancet: Psychiatry for the elderly in the UK
- IJGP letter: Redefining old age psychiatry - a pragmatic approach
- The Times Letter to the Editor: Mental health and how the other half lives
- RCPsych letter to Jeremy Hunt - Ageless services
- BJPsych editorial: Old age psychiatry in the modern age
- JGCR: Ageless mental health services and the future of old age psychiatry in the UK.
- Nilforooshan R et al (2016) Comparison of service utilisation and costs of working age adults and older adults receiving treatment for psychosis and severe non‐psychotic conditions in England: implications for commissioning. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32:110-115.
- Abdul-Hamid WK, Lewis-Cole K, Holloway F, Silverman AM. Comparison of how old age psychiatry and general adult psychiatry services meet the needs of elderly people with functional mental illness: cross-sectional survey. Br J Psychiatry 2015; 207: 440–3.
Please give us any feedback as to whether these resources help or not in your fight to preserve your services.
College reports
- Coronavirus: managing delirium in confirmed and suspected cases - joint report with the BGS and European Delirium Association, 19 March 2020
- Position statement on frailty: ensuring the best outcomes for frail older people February 2020
- Position statement on loneliness and social isolation - joint report with the BGS, December 2019
- Integrated care and mental health November 2019
- CR222 Caring for the whole person: physical healthcare of older adults with mental illness: integration of care May 2019
- PSO2/19: Position statement on the provision of liaison psychiatry services across the lifespan May 2019
- CR218: Bridges not walls: good practice guidance for transition and cooperation between mental health services for older patients May 2019
- CR221: Suffering in silence: age inequality in older people’s mental health care
- CR217: Young-onset dementia in mental health services
- CR211: Our Invisible Addicts
College joint reports
Faculty reports
- Delivering the NHS Long-Term Plan's ambition of ageing well: Old age psychiatry as a vital resource FR/OA/06
- The integration of care and its impact on older people's mental health FR/OA/05
- Criteria for old age psychiatry services in the UK FR/OA/04
- Depression in care homes - joint report with the BGS 2018
- Careers leaflet for Foundation Doctors 2018
- Outcomes in older people's mental health service November 2017
National adoption of FDG-PET scanning in Wales
Background information on the RCPsych Wales website
Interview with Dr Chineze Ivenso, Chair of Old Age Faculty, RCPsych Wales, ITV Wales
Faculty documents and submissions
- Read our 10 recommendations for working with older adults launched at our 2018 International Congress
- Read our submission about the Five Year Forward View to the APPG for Mental Health.
Survey of services results
Dementia
- Understanding Dementia Diagnosis During Covid-19: patient and practitioner experiences, Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre
- See best practice guidance for commissioners and carers. For more information visit the NHS England Clinical Network website Dementia section.
- Guidance on Neuroimaging for dementia
- Streamlining Memory Service Pathways
- The Young Onset Dementia Pathway gives recommendations for commissioners and practitioners to create the ideal care pathway. It was developed by people affected by young onset dementia and the people who work with and support them
- National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Dementia Care Pathway
- Guidelines for the peri-operative care of people with dementia (Wiley Online Library)
Other topics
- Older People's Mental Health Competency Framework, by Health Education England, April 2020
- Driving with Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment Consensus Guidelines, by Newcastle University and endorsed by the College (2018)
- Hidden in plain sight, by Age UK, examines the unmet mental health needs of older people.
- MindEd is a new educational resource that has been co-produced with older people. It explains a range of mental illnesses/concerns and offers practical advice for dealing with them.
- NHS England's Mental Health in Older People Practice Primer helps improve recognition of mental health issues in older people.
- Physical health drugs start-stop reminder card (Word)
- Brain Health and Mental Well-Being: GCBH Recommendations on Feeling Good and Functioning Well
Videos
We have curated a selection of videos created by other organisations for sharing and teaching purposes.
The Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry are pleased to announce the launch of “Delivering the NHS Long-Term Plan's ambition of ageing well: Old age psychiatry as a vital resource”.
Successfully delivering the welcome ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) for older people depends on the recognition that specialist OPMH services provide essential expertise. Access to these specialist services must be incorporated at every stage of planning and implementation in all areas to meet the needs of older people.
This report incorporates views from older people, service users, carers and a wide range of health and social care professionals and provides insight into:
- the essential role played by old age psychiatrists, and the Older People’s Mental Health (OPMH) services to whom they provide leadership, in delivering high quality outcomes for the health and wellbeing of the UK’s ageing population;
- the centrality of this to the Ageing Well agenda; and
- how best to support decision-makers responsible for implementing the NHS LTP as it affects older people
This report summarises good practice examples of collaboration and innovations involving old age psychiatrists across different health and social care settings, and especially in care homes.
While the LTP sets out a vision for health services in England this report is also relevant for those involved in the development and commissioning of integrated health and social care services for older people across the UK devolved nations.
Our thanks goes to Dr Mohan Bhat and colleagues for producing this document and to all of you who sent in examples to be included.
I urge you to share this report with your local Commissioners and colleagues involved in the Primary Care Networks , Integrated Care Systems and Sustainability and Transformation plans.