Improving mental and physical healthcare for older adults: An inpatient service development project by frontline staff

Abstract

The complexities of working in older adults services where clients often experience co-morbid conditions can highlight the necessity for collaborative working between physical and mental healthcare providers. Three older adult mental and physical health wards based in a psychiatric and community hospital started a collaborative service development project to improve holistic patient care. This article discusses how providing staff with the authority and autonomy to make organisational changes can have a positive impact for patients, staff and the trust.