Collaboration with hospital helping home meet changing needs

PASE program helping Pleasant Meadow Manor provide enhanced care to residents with addiction

July 11, 2012 -- Deron Hamel

An outreach program offered through Peterborough Regional Health Centre is proving to be an important resource in helping Pleasant Meadow Manor meet the needs of an increasing long-term care demographic  — younger residents with addiction issues.

The Psychiatric Assessment Services for the Elderly (PASE) program offers geriatric mental health assessment, consultation and education services, as well as treatment and case management services for seniors.

Through PASE, Pleasant Meadow Manor and other long-term care homes in the catchment area can access individualized assessments through social work, nursing and psychiatric input. Additionally, PASE provides education and supports to caregivers.

In recent years, Pleasant Meadow Manor has seen an increase of younger residents moving into the home, many of whom are there as the result of mental health and addiction issues.

In particular, the home has seen an increase of residents addicted to alcohol.

Having PASE available is a valuable resource for the Norwood long-term care home to help deal with the challenging behaviours stemming from alcoholism and other addictions, says nursing administrative services manager (NASM) Susan Towns.

“We’re seeing a lot more behaviours and at a younger age; years and years of drinking have taken a physical and mental toll on them and we’re finding dealing with their behaviours is a challenge for us,” she tells the OMNIway.

Through PASE, the home can access the psychiatric consultation it needs to work with these residents.

A large part of the challenge is the balancing act that comes with introducing medications to people who have kidney or liver issues due to substance abuse, Towns notes.

Being able to access PASE is helping the home meet this challenge, says the NASM.

“PASE is a great resource for us in getting the right medications on board and helping the residents settle in and feel better,” she says.

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