Community support for the elderly
Understanding the needs of older adults and carers
Our Older People’s Community Mental Health Team provides support within the community to the elderly and their carers.
If you or an elderly loved one is experiencing depression, psychosis, stress, anxiety, mental health or dementia and memory problems, your GP may refer you to us for an assessment.
But if you’re already receiving any of our services, you can contact us directly too.
The team will work with you - and your family and friends - to understand your needs and help support you to keep living independently in your home while also improving your quality of life.
We can also support your carers too.
The service is split into seven teams. Across these teams, there are healthcare professionals and specialists who work together to provide you with support and care.
A service that includes educational, advisory, health and wellbeing support.
Admiral Nurses work with family carers of all ages. They offer family carers a skilled assessment of their needs, provide information on the nature of the illness and signpost to services that may be available to them.
Admiral Nurses help the carer to develop strategies to improve their skills in caring. They offer practical advice to help carers cope. This includes emotional support and can be short-term as well as ongoing dependent on a carer's need. This may be pre-diagnosis or may extend beyond bereavement.
Living with or caring for someone living with dementia isn’t easy. We offer a range of groups, activities, events and volunteering opportunities to support you.
Aiming to improve general health, wellbeing and quality of life, the team build up confidence and help you achieve personal goals and engage with the community.
Focusing on illness of a functional nature such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar, psychosis, anxiety, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders, the team liaise with both internal and external services to make sure your care is co-ordinated.
From Mental Health First Aid to Dementia Friends, Dementia Bee to safeguarding adults, we offer a range of training courses including RESPECT Training and social role valorisation (exploring roles and relationships).
If you live in a care home, the team can offer you a range of non-pharmaceutical services, such as dementia care mapping and support to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
The memory service supports individuals through a dementia diagnosis.
They look to meet their emotional needs through this journey, helping them to live well, whilst providing mental health support for behavioural and pscyhological symptoms of dementia.
If you’re worried about your memory, please contact your GP. They will speak to you about a referral to the service. If you’re worried about someone else’s memory problems, encourage them to speak to their GP. It may be helpful if you go along with them. A member of the memory team will then contact you to arrange a visit within ten working days.
How do I access the Older People’s Community Mental Health Team?
If you think you’d benefit from getting support from the Older People’s Community Mental Health Team, you should get in touch with your GP.
Your GP will then refer you to us through the Single Point of Access. The Older People’s Community Mental Health Team will contact you for an assessment, so we can discuss your needs.
If you're feeling stressed, anxious or depressed, you can self-refer directly to our NHS Talking Therapies service on this website.
If you’re already under the care of another NAViGO service, you should speak to the person involved in your care.
If you’re in a mental health crisis and need urgent help, call the Single Point of Access on (01472) 256256 and select option 3. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Alternatively, you can call NHS 111 free from a landline or mobile phone.