Our Services /
Specialist Older People’s Service
This service frovides care for elderly people with challenging behaviour or whose behaviour presents difficulties for their carers in a more ordinary setting. This may include wandering, aggression or anti-social behaviour.
We uphold the Retreat’s historic values of traditional but modern evidence based care that values the individuality and uniqueness of every person.
Our Service
The Older People’s Service consists of two gender specific units which allow our patients to recover in a safe yet stimulating environment. We accept referrals for short stay eg assessments, and for long stay placements.
Our Service Model
The Older People’s Service uses an evidence based psychosocial approach to working with patients who have complex and challenging needs. Based upon a person centred approach to care, our model leads us to consider the whole person first - their unique personal and interpersonal strengths. We recognise that many of our patients have suffered traumatic life events requiring input and support from professional care services elsewhere. Consequently our aim is to understand and resolve challenging behaviours and empower our patients to rediscover their feelings of personal integrity that they need and deserve in later life.
Treatment Philosophy
We are committed to:
- Creating an environment that is conducive to, and enhances the process of recovery.
- Comprehensive and regular assessments.
- Treatment that is focused on reducing the severity and frequency of challenging behaviours.
- Meaningful and personalised activities that maintain and enhance the life skills and interests of our patients through individual and group work.
- Help the patient maintain strong links with family and friends through regular contact and visits.
- Regularly reviewing the effectiveness of care through planned case review meetings with the CPA team.
Our Care Team
In addition to a full range of ancillary services the Older People’s Service has a dedicated multidisciplinary team consisting of:
- Clinical Service Manager
- Consultant Psychiatrist
- Social Worker
- Psychologist and Psychology Assistant
- Occupational Therapists
- Physiotherapist
- Clinical Team Leaders
- Registered Nurses (Mental Health)
- Support Workers (educated to NVQ Level 3)
- Team Administrator
- Advocacy
- Activity Coordinator
In addition to this, our care team provides support and mentorship to nursing, occupational therapy and psychology students.
Who will benefit from our service?
- Men and women aged 60 years and above either informal or detained under the Mental Health Act.
- A primary presenting problem of challenging behaviour and complex needs eg psychosis or dementia.
- A significant degree of underlying or co-existing cognitive impairment.
- A background of long term mental illness.
- Men and women who are difficult to be cared for in a more ordinary setting due to the severity of their challenging behaviour.
Further information/contact us
For more detailed information on this service and/or to arrange a visit or make a referral please contact:
Chris Smith
Clinical Service Manager
01904 412551 ext 2220
or
Debbie Swift
Medical PA (Complex Mental Health Recovery Services/Specialist Older People’s Service)
01904 412551 ext 2310
dswift@ theretreatyork.org.uk
