Survey of aged psychiatry services' support of older Australians with very severe, persistent behavioural symptoms of dementia

Objective: To map the provision of community, acute, non-acute and residential care-based state-funded mental health services to older people with severe, persistent behavioural symptoms of dementia. Methods: An electronic survey was completed in 2015 by senior representatives of aged persons' mental health services across Australia's six states. Results: Jurisdictions varied widely in the number, geographic spread and make-up of aged persons' mental health community teams when adjusted for aged population; their number of acute and non-acute beds, and especially in the provision of specialist residential beds or partnerships with non-government providers. Conclusion: There is no nationally accepted pathway of care for this vulnerable group or understanding of what constitutes an adequate statewide mental health service. Policy Impact: This article illuminates the unequal distribution of state-funded aged mental health services across Australia. This information will prove useful to federal and state governments as discussion sharpens regarding the needs of people whose very severe behavioural symptoms exceed the capacity of mainstream residential aged care facilities. Practice Impact: Australia's state-funded aged persons' mental health services varied widely in their capacity to provide community, inpatient and specialist residential support to people whose dementia is complicated by severe, persistent behavioural symptoms.