Aims, Objectives and Outcomes

'Can Do' for Older People - Foreword and Acknowledgements (PDF 530Kb)

Aim
To strengthen, support and network key stakeholders who deliver services to older people at risk of or experiencing mental health and substance use issues in local areas to improve the capacity to effectively respond to the complexities of coexisting mental health and substance use.

Objectives
To build the capacity of the local primary health care workforce by delivering training to foster partnerships between general practitioners, allied health practitioners and other service providers involved in the provision of care for older people at risk of or experiencing mental health and substance use issues.

Key learning objectives
On completion of this program, participants should be able to:

• describe the physical, psychological, social, spiritual and cultural needs of older people
• demonstrate an increase understanding of the experience of ageing and significance of change in the life of the older person
• demonstrate an increased awareness of mental health, medication and substance use issues and how they impact on older people
• identify risks and protective factors associated with substance use, taking medications, mental health issues and aging
• demonstrate an increase the capacity of general practitioners, allied health professionals and other service providers to work with older people at risk of or experiencing mental health and substance use issues
• demonstrate increased confidence in providing support and understanding required by older people with mental health and substance use issues
• identify health and community services at the local level, particularly those that engage with and provide support to older people
• demonstrate an increase in ability and confidence in developing appropriate pathways of referral and care for older people with mental health and substance use issues and their families and carers.

Key outcomes
The following are the desired key outcomes of ‘Can Do’ for older people:

• local partnerships and interagency collaboration are fostered
• professional networking is enhanced
• the needs of older people are understood
• shared care arrangements are understood and strengthened
• knowledge about local services is improved
• referral protocols and processes are identified
• care plans are streamlined
• stigma about working with people with mental health and substance use comorbidity and their families and carers is reduced.