Mental Health and Older People ― A Guide for Primary Care Practitioners

This case-based book offers primary care practitioners support in managing older people with difficulties due to mental health problems, emphasising the importance of integrating health and social care. 

The full range of disorders is covered, including anxiety and depression, delirium, psychosis and the dementias.

The discussion of anxiety and depression encompasses diagnosis and management, assessment of risk, evidence for both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, and models of care.

Clear guidance is provided on the identification and management of symptoms of delirium and different forms of psychosis in older people. The coverage of the dementias includes presentation, initial management, risks to self and others, referral to specialist care and care of older people in residential and nursing homes. Each chapter is co-written by authors from different professional backgrounds and draws on up-to-date national and international research and guidelines. The book will assist greatly in the commissioning and delivery of evidence-based practice.

Carolyn Chew-Graham (BSc, MB ChB, MD, FRCGP) graduated from the University of Manchester in 1984. She trained as a general practitioner and was awarded the Fraser Rose Medal for the highest marks in the MRCGP examination in 1989. She has been a GP Principal in Central Manchester, UK, since 1990. Carolyn has been an active researcher for over 20 years, was appointed Professor of Primary Care at the University of Manchester in 2009, and moved to a personal Chair at Keele University in 2012. She also holds Honorary Professorships at the University of Manchester, at South Staffs and at Shropshire Foundation Trust.Carolyn’s main areas of interest and expertise include the management of patients with depression, multi-morbidity and unexplained symptoms. She has expertise in qualitative research methods drawing on theories from both the social sciences and psychology, but always with a focus on clinical practice. Carolyn is the Curriculum Advisor for Mental Health at the Royal College of General Practitioners and is a member of the NICE Clinical Guideline Groups ‘Depression’ (update) and ‘Multi-morbidity’ - work which directly impacts on commissioning decisions and patient care.

 Mo Ray, PhD  graduated from the Open University with a first degree in Education and Psychology and completed a Masters in Social Work and CQSW at the University of London, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College. After qualifying in 1990, Mo served as a social worker, care manager and manager in specialist teams for older people and community care teams, and developed an interest in practice with older people living with mental health problems. Mo taught for several years at the Open University (School of Health and Social Welfare) and worked as an off-site practice teacher, while also serving as a consultant for the organization Dementia Care Matters. Awarded a PhD at Keele University in 2000, her research explored the impact of long-term illness and disability on established relationships in the context of long-term marriage. Mo was subsequently awarded an ESRC Research Fellowship, which she completed at Keele. Mo is currently Professor of Gerontological Social Work and Director of Social Work programs at Keele University. Her consultancy work includes designing and delivering in-service training courses in person-centered dementia care, leadership in dementia and developing enriched and stimulating environments in care homes. She has developed standards of care for people living with dementia in care homes for the Royal College of Nursing in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society, has been a social care fellow at the National Institute for Care and Clinical Excellence, and is a founding member of a special interest group of gerontological social work academics. Her research interests include: social work with older people, improving care and practice with older people, and social relationships in later life. She is currently co-investigator for the Leverhulme Trust-funded research project ‘The Ageing of British Gerontology’ and is a team member on the NIHR-funded feasibility study: NOn-Traditional providers to support the management of Elderly People with Anxiety and Depression (NOTEPAD).