AGPN calls for better access to mental health for residents of nursing homes
With the prevalence of depression much higher among the elderly in nursing homes, than it is among the elderly in the community, the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) has called for nursing home residents to also be eligible for GP mental health care plans.
“We welcome the introduction of the suite of Better Access to Mental Health Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) items,” said AGPN chair, Dr Tony Hobbs.
“These items have allowed GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and other allied health professionals to deliver quality primary mental health services to the community, but with depression poorly recognised and treated among nursing home residents, mental health care plans should also be permitted in aged care facilities.”
Dr Hobbs said such a change could be easily implemented: “All that is required is a relaxation of an existing exception, to the Better Access to Mental Health care item numbers.
“This could be done in the Department of Health and Ageing’s May 2009 MBS updates.”
Dr Hobbs cited a 2005 study by the Department of General Practice at Monash University, funded by beyondblue, which found that GPs are less likely to attend to the ‘mood state’ of patients in a nursing home, than patients sitting in front of them in their practice.
Most residents of aged care facilities present with multiple, complex and chronic conditions, that require significant medical and health care placing, increasing demands on already stretched staff time and resources.
The end result is often unnecessary presentations to hospital at high costs.
The Monash study also found that appropriate training for GPs and nursing home staff can be hugely beneficial in recognising symptoms of depression among residents.
