Winter support for older people with mental illness

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Community Mental Health Services

Background:

• Older adults with mental health issues exhibit reluctance towards day-care facilities during winter.
• This reluctance negatively impacts their health and strains mental health services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of an assertive outreach pilot program.
• To improve engagement of older adults with mental health problems in therapeutic activities and day centers.

Main Methods:

• A pilot scheme implemented assertive outreach in a London mental health trust.
• Service users with difficulties engaging were encouraged to attend day centers and participate in activities.

Main Results:

• After a six-month period, participants demonstrated notable health improvements.
• The assertive outreach approach facilitated better engagement with mental health services.

Conclusions:

• Assertive outreach is a viable strategy to enhance service engagement for older adults with mental health conditions.
• Targeted interventions can mitigate the negative health impacts associated with service disengagement in winter months.