Aged
Persons Mental Health Service (APMHS)
What
is APMHS?
Aged Persons Mental Health Service
(APMHS) is a community based mental health service for older Gippslanders.
It is recognised that older
people have special needs that require a different treatment approach to
younger adults.
Aged Persons Mental Health Services
have been developed to meet that special need in the context of a mental
illness.
Who
can we help?
Residents of Gippsland who are over 65
years:
- who have had a mental
illness for many years and are now experiencing issues relating to
growing older
- who develop a functional
mental illness such as depression for the first time in later life
- who develop an organic
disorder such as Alzheimer’s disease and have associated challenging behaviours.
We provide services to any adult in this category regardless of age.
How
can we help you?
APMHS provides a home based assessment,
treatment, planning and case management service.
- Assessment information
gathered reflects the physical, medical, emotional and safety status of
the referred person in the context of their whole life
- An Individual Service Plan
(ISP) is developed in conjunction with the consumer and their carer(s)
- The Case Manager is
responsible for coordination of care and is the main point of contact
for the consumer and carer(s) while involved with the service
Hospital admission may be required.
The Macalister Unit at Latrobe regional
Hospital provides intensive assessment and treatment services.
The Case Manager will remain involved
with the consumer and carer throughout their Hospital stay.
APMHS also provides specialist advice
through education, consultancy and collaboration with other aged care service
providers.
Where
are we located?
APMHS workers are based at the
following Community Mental Health Service offices:
Bairnsdale
CMHS
Korumburra
CMHS
Latrobe
Valley CMHS
Orbost
CMHS
Sale
CMHS
Warragul
CMHS
Yarram
CMHS
Referral
information required
General Practitioners usually make
referrals, but a relative, carer or individual can also make a referral.
Every effort should be made to identify
any physical cause of presentation prior to referral.
The following information will be
required when making a referral:
- Name, date of birth,
address and contact number of the person being referred
- Name and contact number of
next of kin
- Name and contact number of
the person’s doctor and/or specialist
- Medication the person
takes, if known
- The referrer’s name and
contact number
- Current medical and
physical state
- The problems that have prompted
you to make the referral
- If other services are
involved
How
to contact our service
All referrals are via a single point of
entry called Triage.
Triage is the first point of contact for
any Mental Health emergency after hours.
Working
hours
Referrals can be made at anytime but
APMHS workers are only available from Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 5.00 pm.
The Adult Service worker on duty
attends to any emergencies after these hours including weekends.
This person is contacted via Triage.
Availability of the Adult Service duty
worker varies from office to office after 8.30 pm.
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