Psychogeriatric Services
For Older Adults Living in the Community

The Psychogeriatric Community Support Program (PCSP) is a program offered by The Whitby Mental Health Centre and Community Care Durham. The program offers screening, assessment, consultation plus referral and supportive services for high risk older adults 65 years and older with mental health concerns living in the community.

There are two components: (1) Outreach assessments conducted by a nurse clinician in consultation with a psychiatrist; and, (2) Supportive services to include: individual short term supportive counseling; psycho-educational and social recreational support groups; and one-to-one support provided by trained volunteers.

The service priority is high risk older adults with the presence of thoughts, feelings and behaviours indicative of a potential serious mental health problem; plus one or more of the following:

• Passive suicidal ideation and/or homicidal ideation;
• Low level of social support;
• Social and emotional isolation;
• History of mental illness;
• Refractory to current mental health treatment;
• Caregiver stress;
• Substance abuse; and
• Complex health problems that include the combination of chronic mental illness, medical factors and aging.

The client's physician needs to be informed and supportive of the referral. The assessment is summarized and forwarded with recommendations to the client's physician for follow up.