Photo via prhc.on.ca
With some 22 percent of Peterborough city and county residents aged 65 and up, it makes good sense that a program focused exclusively on geriatric mental health is in place.
Enter the Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s and its Psychiatric Assessment Services for the Elderly program. Best known by acronym PASE, the program offers geriatric mental health assessment, consultation and education services.
Nicole Earl, a registered nurse with the program, says the PASE clinic is an extension of the hospital having been awarded Age-Friendly Health System designation from the Institute for Health Care Improvement. She adds clinic services are available to those aged 65 and older with or without cognitive impairment and mental health issues.
Earl notes PASE team members make home visits as well as visits to long-term care facilities.
Earl says patients’ progress is tracked to determine their progress as well as next steps.
PASE satellite clinics are held monthly in Lindsay, Cobourg and Campbellford, and bi-monthly in Haliburton/Minden. Clinic staff
also take turns being available by telephone for consultation and can be reached toll free at 1-866-877-2910.
(Written by: Paul Rellinger)
