Older Adults Community Mental Health Team and Dementia Service

• People who are diagnosed as suffering from a serious/severe and enduring illness, namely schizophrenia, severe affective disorders, (depression, bi-polar disorders) anxiety, OCD.
• People who suffer substantial disability as a result of their mental illness, e.g. self-neglect or social isolation etc.
• People who are currently displaying florid psychotic symptoms or who are suffering from a chronic and enduring mental health condition/experiencing relapse.
• People who have suffered reoccurring crisis leading to frequent admissions/interventions.
• People with significant risk to their safety, or that of others.

People with dementia or suspected dementia should be referred when there is: 

• Evidence of behaviours that challenge care givers which may potentially lead to carer breakdown or loss of placement.
• Agitation/distress not resulting from physical health issues
• Psychosis inclusive of Hallucinations / Paranoia
• Wandering where a major risk is identified and cannot be met by a social care package
• Non-Concordance with medication or support services that is due to a deterioration in mental health, potentially leading to increased risk/the above
• A need for a confirmation of a diagnosis of Dementia by a GP for possible commencement of anti-dementia medication: The individual should be referred to the Memory Assessment Service; if they require a package of care at home then they should be referred to Trafford Social Services.
• A need for an EMI nursing needs assessment for an individual living in their own home, a Trafford Care Home or those service users in a community setting subject to section 117 aftercare. EMI Nursing Needs Assessments for individuals in General Hospitals are undertaken by the MH Liaison Service.  

Service users with Acquired Brain Injury due to alcohol will fall under the same auspices as those service users with a pre-senile dementia and will be accepted into the service dependent on the severity of the symptoms in line with the criteria above. People who have a primary diagnosis of substance misuse without chronic cognitive impairment will not be accepted into this service but sign posted to the appropriate speciality. Service users with a dual diagnosis of mental health needs and substance misuse will be required to be in abstinence for at least six weeks prior to the assessment process in order for reliable information to be obtained to inform the assessment.