How do memory clinics compare with traditional old age psychiatry services?

Taking a global approach by highlighting both the common burdens and the differences in management from country to country, The Oxford Textbook of Old Age Psychiatry, Second Edition includes information on all the latest improvements and changes in the field. New chapters are included to reflect the development of old age care; covering palliative care, the ethics of caring, and living and dying with dementia. Existing chapters have also been revised and updated throughout and additional information is included on brain stimulation therapies, memory clinics and services, and capacity, which now includes all mental capacity and decision making.

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Should old age psychiatry develop memory clinics? A comparison with domiciliary work

Psychiatric Bulletin ◽

10.1192/pb.28.3.78 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 78-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

S. Simpson ◽

D. Beavis ◽

J. Dyer ◽

S. Ball

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Clinical Implications ◽

Memory Clinic ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Memory Clinics ◽

Old Age Psychiatry ◽

Psychiatric Complications ◽

To Receive ◽

Case Note Review

Aims and MethodMemory clinics have become very popular in old age psychiatry and there is some pressure for them to be developed in old age services. However, there is little evidence to suggest that they are more advantageous over the traditional domiciliary visits or who should be seen in clinic. This was a naturalistic comparison of 76 consecutive new referrals to a memory clinic, with 74 consecutive new domiciliary requests within the same service over the same period of time. A retrospective case note review collected the clinical features and an 18-month prospective follow-up examined the subsequent clinical management.Clinical ImplicationsThe two groups were characterised more by their similarities than their differences. However, the domiciliary group had greater behavioural and psychological complications. The memory clinic patients were less likely to receive psychotropic medication and here more likely to be followed up.ResultsWe conclude that memory clinics might be less suitable for patients with prominent psychiatric complications. Memory clinics could complement the domiciliary model by providing early psychosocial/neuropsychiatric approaches, although this is likely to lead to an increased clinical case-load.

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One day in the life of old age psychiatrists in the United Kingdom

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610213000331 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 1023-1032

Author(s):

Susan Mary Benbow ◽

David Jolley

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Working Hours ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Work Patterns ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Current Economic Climate ◽

Economic Climate ◽

Memory Clinics ◽

Old Age Psychiatry ◽

Day Hospitals

ABSTRACTBackground: The provision of mental health care for older people will become increasingly important with rising demand related to global demographic changes. This project aimed to identify changes in work patterns of UK consultant old age psychiatrists between 1993 and 2012.Method: A link to an online questionnaire was circulated to consultant old age psychiatrists through the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists.Results: In all 210 usable responses were received. On the survey day 71% of old age psychiatrists arrived at work before 9 am, and 40% left work after 6 pm. Over one-third (35%) worked for another hour or more at home. The range of activities was broader than previously reported. Administrative activity was undertaken by over 60% and acute ward work by only 26%. Few consultants reported time in long-stay care or day hospitals. Outpatient activity included Memory Clinics and Health Center Clinics. The main stressors reported by consultants were lack of resources and pressures from management-imposed, financially driven service changes. Relationships with people at work (including patients and their families) and outside work were the main identified support.Conclusions: Consultants’ working hours have changed little since 1997, but the range and emphases of activities have changed. Changes in service organization are stressful and consultants are supported by relationships with colleagues and patients. Work patterns are changing in response to demands and constraints on the specialty. Research is needed into service design and work patterns, which can provide humane care in the current economic climate.

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Heads in the sand may leave old age psychiatry looking foolish and vulnerable

BJPsych Bulletin ◽

10.1192/pb.bp.114.048215 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 12-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David Jolley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Community Mental Health ◽

Old Age ◽

Continuity Of Care ◽

Social Care ◽

Community Mental Health Team ◽

Mental Health Team ◽

Health Team ◽

Memory Clinics ◽

Old Age Psychiatry

SummaryDementia has been recognised as a major challenge to health, social care and economies. Research by Rubinsztein and colleagues, in this issue, has compared the services provided by memory clinics with those of traditional community mental health team services. They conclude that memory clinics offer a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary service at no extra cost. Here I will question some of their findings and highlight the importance of better continuity of care between primary and secondary services.

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