Issues in rural and remote locations
Chapter 8 ISSUES IN RURAL AND REMOTE LOCATIONS INTRODUCTION Australia has always taken pride in its rural heritage, and much of its modern-day nationhood grew from the values that emanated…
Risk assessment
Chapter 18 RISK ASSESSMENT INTRODUCTION This chapter gives an overview of risk assessment, with particular emphasis on falls, abuse and neglect of older people, and aggression. Risk assessment involves the…
Functional assessment
Chapter 16 FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT INTRODUCTION When an older person becomes mentally impaired, their ability to self-care is an area that usually becomes compromised. It is what a person cannot do…
Clinical cognitive assessment
Chapter 14 CLINICAL COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT INTRODUCTION Clinical cognitive assessment involves the informal and formal testing of memory and other intellectual abilities in the context of the overall clinical assessment of…
Physical health assessment
Chapter 15 PHYSICAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT INTRODUCTION As general medical conditions increase sharply in prevalence with advancing age, many people referred to older persons’ mental health services (OPMHS), and many of…
The mental state examination
Chapter 13 THE MENTAL STATE EXAMINATION INTRODUCTION This chapter is devoted to the mental state examination of older people in the community setting. Mental state examination is often referred to…
The therapeutic relationship
Chapter 11 THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP INTRODUCTION The therapeutic relationship differs from ordinary human relationships in that its purpose is to allow the diagnosis and treatment of a health problem. It…
Consultation-liaison services to residential aged care facilities
Chapter 10 CONSULTATION–LIAISON SERVICES TO RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE FACILITIES INTRODUCTION Community mental health teams for older people often provide consultation–liaison services to residential aged care facilities (RACFs). A consultation–liaison service…
Consumers and carers
Chapter 9 CONSUMERS AND CARERS INTRODUCTION Older people experience a broad range of mental health problems and contact with specialist mental health services is increasing. This contact brings a desire…
Social issues
Chapter 7 SOCIAL ISSUES INTRODUCTION When exploring the mental health problems of older people, the extent to which they are exacerbated by social issues is as important as what results…
