Neuropsychiatry, older adults and dementia
Supporting patients through a collaborative and person-centred process.
Priory provides rehabilitation for people with complex needs due to neuropsychiatric conditions, such as dementia, Huntington’s disease and Korsakoff’s syndrome, those with behaviours that challenge, and people who may also have complex co-morbidities.
We also provide a service for people with longer-term mental illness and co-morbid cognitive impairment, who are frail and vulnerable, or for those with a brain injury who may also have co-morbid mental health needs.
We care for older adults and people with early-onset dementia. By offering the highest quality treatment, in the safest environments possible, we aim to reduce agitation and maximise functioning.
- A person-centred holistic approach encompassing a rehabilitation and recovery framework
- Optimising cognitive functioning and improving behaviours that challenge
- Making use of evidence-based pharmacological and psychological interventions, including positive behaviour support (PBS) and cognitive stimulation therapy
- Multidisciplinary therapy input, including speech and language, dietetics and physiotherapy
- Close liaison with primary care and medical specialists for people with complex physical health needs
- Maintaining and improving skills and functioning in conjunction with psycho-social interventions
- Optimising quality of life with a personalised timetable of activities and community access
- Close liaison with families and carers to ensure relationships are maintained
- Purpose-built and specifically designed facilities to improve behaviours, including dementia-friendly environments
- End-of-life care
Service overview
We provide holistic treatment and support through bespoke, tailored packages of care, highlighting specific treatment goals. This enables our patients to maintain or develop their skills and cognitive functioning, while optimising their quality of life and progressing through the care pathway.
The people we care for come from a range of services, often where there has been a placement breakdown due to complex mental health needs. This can include:
- Stepping up from a community placement
- Transferring from a care home environment
- Moving across from acute mental health wards
- Stepping down from secure services
- Transferring from other mental health services that have struggled to deliver an improvement in outcomes
- Transferring from an acute medical ward due to complex physical health needs that can't be managed by local psychiatric services
Priory supports patients through a collaborative and person-centred process and we recognise individuality, whilst managing risk. We promote choice and positive risk taking, but in line with our ‘can do safely’ approach.
By encouraging people with neuropsychiatric conditions to take control and have belief in their potential, we create pathways that support them in their transition to more independent living where possible, or to a more positive future, whilst providing care with dignity and respect.
For people who are unable to engage in collaborative care planning, there is close liaison with family and carers to support holistic and individualised care. We understand that when a person’s cognitive abilities decrease, the impact on that person’s individuality can be profound, so staff are trained to work with the person to help them re-connect with their sense of self. Effective communication and understanding of the needs and preferences of each person is an essential component of our commitment to high-quality dementia care.
Referrals and admissions
We offer a full care pathway for adults with:
- Dementia, including Korsakoff syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease
- Enduring mental health issues with co-morbid cognitive impairment or acquired brain injury (ABI)
The above presentations may also include behaviours that challenge, complex co-morbid physical health needs, frailty, vulnerability and significant risks that necessitate hospital placement or a locked residential setting (for example, high levels of aggression and high risk of absconding/wandering).
We continually re-invest in our services and teams to sustain our high-quality care; this continuous re-investment ensures that our services are fundamentally centred on each patient’s individual needs.
We accept referrals UK-wide. Information received by a site upon referral will initially be reviewed by an appropriate clinician, who will ascertain if the patient is suitable for the service. They will then discuss the case with the wider team and identify suitable staff members to carry out an assessment, taking into consideration any specific needs of the person.
The assessing team will carry out a thorough assessment and discuss their findings with the multidisciplinary team which will determine if the service can meet the person's needs. We aim to carry out the assessment within 2 working days of receiving the referral. Once completed, a full assessment report, including costings, will be provided to the referrer.
Once an admission is agreed, the patient will be provided with information about the service and will be given the opportunity to ask any questions. The patient (along with their family and/or carers) is welcome to visit the service at any point on the referral journey. We understand that coming to a new service can be a stressful experience for some and therefore, we encourage the use of familiarisation visits where appropriate.
We accept referrals from:
- Provider trusts and local systems
- Community mental health teams
- Medium secure settings
- Mental health acute/psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs)/secure inpatient
- Prisons and courts
- Social services and the police
Contact us for help, referrals or more information
For further information on Priory services offered to the NHS, or to make a referral, please call our dedicated 24/7 customer service centre.