Most patients treated by the Brent Older Adult Community Mental Health Team will have short-term mental health issues and after a period of weeks or months they will be referred back to their general practitioner (GP) when their condition has improved. A small minority, however, who need specialist care will remain with the team for a longer period for ongoing treatment, care and monitoring.
Community mental health teams have three key functions in providing mental health care for older people:
- To give advice to other professionals on the management of mental health problems – in particular, providing advice to primary care, such as GP surgeries, and making sure appropriate referrals are made.
- Providing treatment and care for those with short-term mental health issues who can benefit from specialist interventions.
- Providing treatment and care for those with more complex needs.
The team welcome referrers for people with the following mental health difficulties:
- Any age with a primary diagnosis of dementia (this excludes traumatic brain injury and Korsakoff's).
- A mental disorder and significant physical illness or frailty which contributes to, or complicates the management of their mental disorder. Exceptionally, this may include people under the age of 60 years.
- Psychological or social difficulties related to the ageing process, or end of life issues, or who feel their needs may be best met by an older people service. This would normally include people over the age of 70 years.
The criteria above will be applied bearing in mind the person’s choice about services.
For people who haven’t had any contact with one of our community services, referrals can be made by a GP, social services or other health professionals.
If you have had previous contact with the team please call us to discuss any difficulties or concerns.
The CMHTs will usually arrange to see people in their own homes by appointment and are not able to offer a walk-in service.
Tube: Kingsbury Tube Station - Jubilee Line (10-15 minutes walk).
Bus stop in Roe Green: 204, 324,302. Other nearby buses: 183, 653, 683.
Car: There is parking on the road, or limited car parking at Fairfields House
Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm
Weekends and bank holidays: 9am to 5pm