Abstract
Aims and MethodTo review the clinical and managerial impact of flooding on a community mental health team (CMHT) for older adults by prospectively recording all flooding related events met by the CMHT.ResultsOf 348 individuals known to the CMHT, 87 lived in flood affected areas. In nine patients symptoms deteriorated. There were two new referrals as a direct consequence of the flooding. Flood effects can be grouped into: new mental illness, management problems, CMHT workload, and secondary benefits.Clinical ImplicationsThe immediate and delayed problems caused by flooding to the elderly with mental illness and dementia include unmasking cognitive impairment and provoking exacerbations in depressive and anxiety disorders. Personal evacuation plans should be used when moving individuals with marked cognitive impairment to avoid difficulties with identification. Overcrowding of care homes used to temporarily accommodate additional residents can contribute to behavioural changes and psychological symptoms in those with pre-existing dementia.
Highlights
Overcrowding of care homes used to temporarily accommodate additional residents can contribute to behavioural changes and psychological symptoms in those with pre-existing dementia
The experiences of the team are summarised below. They can be grouped into recognition of new mental illness, management problems, the impact on community mental health team (CMHT) workload, and cases where there was a benefit from the flooding
Of 348 individuals known to the CMHT at the time of the flood, 87 (36 male and 51 female; Table 1) lived in ‘flood affected’ areas where significant flood waters reached at least as far as their residence.[4]
Summary
At the time of the study, community staff were aware of further changes in service such as transformation into care pathways later in the year. In order to minimise observer bias, measures were taken to standardise interviewing techniques and interpretation of statements. It remains to be formally tested whether or not separate hospital and community services provide better psychiatric care than sectorised services.[9] Parameters that can be examined at a later stage might include number and frequency of re-admissions, bed occupancy, patient and carer satisfaction, number of critical incidents, satisfaction and stress level of ward and community staff, and recruitment and retention rate of staff
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