#ADHD assessment Ontario

[kdwellness01]

Psychological Assessment Ontario

Psychological Assessment Ontario provides comprehensive evaluations to support mental health and well-being. Our experienced psychologists offer personalized assessments for children, adolescents, and adults, addressing a range of concerns including learning difficulties, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. We aim to deliver accurate diagnoses and tailored recommendations to help you thrive in everyday life.

[sarpedon]

the push online to reduce the stigma around mental illness has created a strange group of undergrads who seem unaware that there still very much is a stigma around mental illness. i have students email me casually telling me their diagnosis, telling me they need an assignment extension because their anti anxiety medication refill was delayed, telling me they discussed something with their therapist, that they are getting assessed for ADHD, etc etc etc.

dont do that. dont tell me that. dont tell any of your TAs or instructors these sorts of things.

what if i suck? what if i think ADHD is a fake condition that people only get diagnosed with cuz they want drugs? what if i think people who think they have anxiety or depression are just weak snowflakes who cant handle the real world? provide as little information as you can get away with.

i dont know how it works in other countries but here (ontario, canada) most universities have some form of student accessibility services. theyre not great usually, but what they do is act as a go between. so you tell SAS your diagnosis and what accommodations you need, and then they come to us and say "this student needs this accommodation." and we dont ever know why. we also arent allowed to ignore it.

you tell me you need an extension because your ADHD meds ran out? you run the risk of 1) me not giving you the extension, and 2) me deciding you're a lazy ass who cant handle academia and marking you extremely harshly for the rest of the term.

dont open yourself up to that.

[chronicdivergent]

This misconception is literally why I can’t access autism specific supports in my area. Because Ontario is still confusing intellectual disability and developmental disability.

Autism is a developmental disability. Someone can have an additional intellectual disability, but autism itself is NOT an intellectual disability.

Intellectual disability has a very specific definition, usually based on IQ score.

ADHD, dyslexia, discalculia, and others are neurological / neurocognitive / neuropsychiatric disorders. They are NOT intellectual disabilities.

The Developmental Services Organization in Ontario manages ALL programs and resources for autistic people. In order to get ANY access to resources, you have to be approved by them. But their actual criteria for access is that you have BOTH an autism diagnosis AND an intellectual disability or comparable deficit demonstrated through an IQ assessment.

This is what happens when people don’t care enough to learn the difference between an intellectual and developmental condition. And then those people become politicians and set up organizations that get founded on these mistaken definitions and then excludes the very people the resources are meant to help.

[Wait so I agree that we shouldn't say the r slur but adhd, autism, dyslexia and dyscalculia are absolutely intellectual disabilities. The definition is a disability that affects learning and every day life skills. All four of them definitely affect both]

speechless

wish had you all’s confidence in saying the absolute wrongest things in most confident way possible without bother look it up

[adultadhdcentre]

Adult ADHD Centre: Pioneering Adult ADHD Care in Canada

Discover the forefront of adult ADHD care at the Adult ADHD Centre, offering over 14,000 assessments and ongoing support. Based in Toronto, Ontario, our center caters to adults across ADHD Canada, providing specialized assessments and comprehensive care. Learn more about our assessments and services here. Visit us:- https://adultadhdcentre.com/article/adult-adhd-assessments-in-canada-navigating-the-options/

[grunge-mermaid]

re: tags on my last post

you know what else grownups need too? eye exams. glasses. prescription medication. therapy. ND assessments.

if you're between 18-65 in Ontario you get like jack shit from OHIP. like, yes, obviously kids need these things and increasing healthcare to provide dental care for children is a good thing (they already had coverage vision- & pharma-care). but it's not enough.

I've been on a waitlist for a family doctor since 2018. I submitted an application for a (new since I left for grad school) clinic but they prioritize precariously housed people & people in much less stable situations for me (which is fair & reasonable bc limited resources). I haven't had a family doctor since my last one retired in 2006. There's a telemedicine clinic around the corner but the doctor zooms in from Toronto & won't prescribe ANY medication if he has "concerns" about just one of them. 1 of the 2 walk-in clinics in the region just closed. that means there's just 1 walk-in clinic to service nearly 90,000 people.

BUT even if I do get a doctor soon and I do get the assessments I need & renewed asthma/allergy prescriptions, it won't matter unless I somehow suddenly start making a metric fuck tonne of money well above a living wage. or get married & have a bunch of kids I don't want.

Because I can't afford $1800-$6000 for an ADHD or ASD assessment. Supposedly there's a way to get an assessment for $300 but fuck if I can afford that. Or my $350 (last time I bought it in 2018)/month Timothy grass allergy pills, not to mention my other allergy and asthma meds. I haven't had an eye exam since 2019 but I can't afford that either, let alone new glasses (the ones I have now were emergency-replacement-cheapest-pos-frames-I-could-find after breaking my last pair). luckily my driver's licence is expired because my RX is so out of date it's technically illegal for me to drive with these glasses. I haven't been to a dentist since I was 26 and aged out of my dad's work coverage because it's so expensive.

But I'm over 18. and under 65. and not a parent. and unemployed. so I continue to fall through the cracks. I'm not valuable enough to the government to deserve health coverage.

[ouvirogalo]

PROGRAMME INFO (8)

**SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO READ IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER**

Anastopoulos, A. & Shelton, T. (2001).  Assessing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishing Co. Barkley, R. A. (1997)  Defiant Children:  A Clinician’s Manual for Assessment and Parent Training.  New York:  Guilford Press (800-365-7006; info@guilford.com). Barkley, R. A. (2006).  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (3rd edition).  New York: Guilford Press, 72 Spring St., New York, NY 10012 (800-365-7006 or info@guilford.com). Barkley, R. A., & Murphy, K. R. (2006).  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Clinical Workbook.  New York: Guilford (800-365-7006 or info@guilford.com). Barkley, R. A. (2005).  ADHD and the nature of self-control.  New York:  Guilford. (see above) Barkley, R. A., Edwards, G., & Robin, A. R. (1999).  Defiant Teens: A Clincian’s Manual for Assessment and Family Intervention.  New York: Guilford. (see above) Brown, T. (2000).  Attention deficit disorders and comorbidities in children, adolescents, and adults.  Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press. Buell, J. (2004).  Closing the Book on Homework.  Amazon.com. DuCharme, J., Atkinson, L., & Poulton, L.  (2000).  Success based, noncoercive treatment of oppositional behavior in children from violent homes.  Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39, 9951004.  Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, University of Toronto (OISE), 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1V6. DuPaul, G. J., et al. (1998). The ADHD-IV Rating Scale.  New York: Guilford. DuPaul, G. J., & Stoner, G. (2003).  ADHD in the schools.  New York: Guilford. Gioia, G. A., Isquith, P. K., Guy, St. C., & Kenworthy, L. (2000).  Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF).  Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.  (www.parinc.com; 800-331-8378). Goldstein, S. (1998).  Managing atttention and learning disorders in late adolescence and adulthood.  New York: Wiley. Goldstein, S., & Goldstein, M. (1998).  Managing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.  New York: Wiley. Goldstein, S. & Teeter Ellison, A. (2002).  Clinician’s Guide to Adult ADHD.  New York: Academic Press. Gordon, M., & McClure, D. (1997).  The down and dirty guide to adult ADHD.  DeWitt, NY:  GSI Publications. Jensen, P. S., & Cooper, J. R. (2003).  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: State of Science – Best Practices.  Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute. Kralovec, E., & Buell, J. (2000).  The End of Homework:How Homework Disrupts Families, Overburdens Children, and Limits Learning.  Amazon.com. Loo, S. & Barkley, R. A. (2005).  Clinical utility of EEG in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Applied Neuropsychology, 12, 64-76. Mash, E. J., & Barkley, R. A. (2003)  Child Psychopathology.  New York: Guilford. Mash, E. J., & Barkley, R. A. (2005).  Treatment of childhood disorders (3rd edition).  New York:  Guilford. Milich R, Ballentine AC, & Lynam D. (2001). ADHD Combined Type and ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type are distinct and unrelated disorders. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 8, 463-488. Pagani, L., Tremblay, R., Vitaro, F., Boulerice, B., & McDuff, P. (2001).  Effects of grade retention on academic performance and behavioral development.  Development and Psychopathology, 13, 297-315.  L. Pagani, Ph.D., Research Unit on Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal, CP 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 3J7; email: paganikl@grip.umontreal.ca. Phelps, L., Brown, R. T., & Power, T. J. (2001).  Pediatric psychopharmacology: Combining medical and psychosocial interventions.  Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. (www.apa.org/books; 800-374-2721) Robin, A. R. (1998).  ADHD in adolescents: Diagnosis and treatment.  New York: Guilford. (info@guilford.com; 800-365-7006) Rojas, N. L., & Chan, E. (2005).  Old and new controversies in alternative treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. 

[college-girl199328]

An Edmonton mother facing deportation to the Philippines has been granted permanent resident status, bringing an end to her eight-year battle to remain in Canada.

Evangeline Cayanan was initially scheduled to be deported last July, along with her seven-year-old Canadian-born daughter, McKenna's mother and daughter, with the support of advocates across the country, fought to remain in Canada.

On Thursday, Cayanan was informed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that her permanent residency application had been approved.

Cayanan, who first came to Canada in 2010 as a temporary foreign worker, spent a brief time in Ontario before moving to Edmonton in 2011.

She lost her status after she reported two employers for alleged abuse, including unsafe working conditions, harassment and discrimination.

According to federal court documents and her lawyer, she alleges one of the employers accused her of theft as retribution. Cayanan was charged with one count of theft over $5,000 in 2014, but prosecutors stayed the case in 2015, according to court records.

Her lawyer said she wasn't even in the country at the time of the alleged theft lost her work permit and wasn't able to apply for refugee status became undocumented in 2015, the same year her daughter McKenna was born. Cayanan then became an activist.

"I was so happy I was jumping on the bed," Cayanan told CBC News Friday can finally breathe … because I have been living in the shadows."

Cayanan said she was grateful for her supporters and for the certainty of her future in Canada and said she will pay back the community by continuing to advocate for migrants and helping others like the system.

The temporary foreign worker permits are tied to a specific employer meaning workers can only legally work for the employer named and that permit cannot be switched once in Canada.

"My situation is not unique," Cayanan said I am happy about the news, and I am hoping the government will still look into the other 500,000 undocumented.

"There is a growing number of undocumented migrants here. Those who have already established their lives here have their families here … and we are not a burden, they are not a burden because they are working under the table without legal status, we are being used, abused and exploited."

Cayanan filed applications to stay on compassionate and humanitarian grounds in 2016 and 2019, both of which were rejected and were set to face deportation in July 2022 but it has stayed before her removal from the country, she was granted a one-year postponement of her deportation.

While facing deportation, she also filed a pre-removal risk assessment, arguing it would be unsafe and that she and her daughter could face persecution in the Philippines.

Her daughter lives with ADHD and other developmental challenges, and Cayanan argued that a return to the Philippines would exacerbate her medical issues.

Cayanan also feared retribution for her activism and public criticism of the country's government if she were to return won an award from the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights for her work fighting for healthcare access for the children of undocumented parents also a volunteer with Migrante Alberta, an organization supporting migrant workers.

Marco Luciano, a director with Migrante Alberta, said Cayanan's story illustrates the challenges migrant workers face in gaining a permanent foothold in the country.

Like Cayanan, many people come to Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker program but lose status, all while new workers are brought into industries hungry for workers.

"Her case is very, very important," he said one victory, this is very important for the whole struggle to regularize the status of all undocumented migrants."

Canada is increasingly reliant on temporary foreign workers to Statistics Canada, the number of people in the program increased seven-fold from 111,000 in 2000 to 777,000 in 2021 and has also expanded its reliance on the workforce, loosening restrictions on the hiring of new temporary foreign workers last year.

But the path to permanent residency is often difficult, leaving thousands of people without status federal government is working on a program that will provide avenues to permanent residency for up to 500,000 immigrants who are working in Canada but do not have official standing.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed to the mandate in December 2021 but the details of the program, and its timeline remain unclear.

The program needs to be broad and inclusive, and it needs to happen soon, Luciano said the Canadian government promised regularization," he said.

"Now is the time for the federal government to step up and value those promises."

[sad--tree]

my dad is already kinda being :/// abt paying for my therapy so i uhhhhh dont super fancy asking for like $1500-$3000 to get an assessment done.....

[handweavers]

hi Kiran! 100% ignore this if you don't feel comfortable sharing, but I'm 22 and seeking an adhd diagnosis. I'm pretty sure i have it, i mean i have many symptoms that could overlap with bpd and autism and other things, but i think adhd is the one that seems to fit the most. but i keep hearing about how it's nearly impossible to get a diagnosis as an adult, and my parents aren't supporting me in this so they won't talk to my therapist abt how i was as a child... idk, are there any tips you have from your experience? again, please ignore if this is too intrusive, i don't have many other people to ask. have a nice day!

it can be difficult getting a diagnosis as an adult especially if your family aren't supportive and there are overlapping symptoms. a few of my friends w ADHD struggled getting their diagnosis or figuring out they have ADHD at all bc they're also autistic or have bpd or the "symptoms" of bpd, and stuff like gender and race play a role in how you're perceived by the psychiatric community. like for me, my "symptoms" were perceived as me simply being bored bc i was "gifted" and "too smart for my classes" so my struggles in school were seen as me just needing more of an intellectual challenge and also needing to stop being "lazy" and depressed and motivate myself to push through boredom, all of which is very fucked up in hindsight for like 400 reasons.

the main issue re:advice is that i don't know what it's like trying to get a diagnosis outside of the toronto area/ontario or how it works if you're in the states or elsewhere. it also depends on the access you currently have to mental health support as well as your financial situation. here in toronto, i was 19 when i sought a diagnosis and i didn't need either of my parents to be involved, but i was lucky in that i was able to get my mom to vouch for me regardless. i've also been seeing the same clinical psychologist regularly since i was 12 and we have a good relationship so when i brought up wanting to get a diagnosis with her she wrote a letter that stated she was confident that I have ADHD to the psychiatrists I saw, which definitely helped. I also didn't have to pay for any assessments or anything due to our healthcare system and my insurance so that was another barrier that I did not face.

In your situation, if your therapist isn't responding well to you wanting a DX my recommendation would always be to try to find another therapist who will, especially because your therapist should be someone who vouches for you and wants to work with you and help you genuinely and if this is a struggle you're having with them that could indicate further issues down the line wrt the quality of your healthcare. With that said, switching therapists or finding a psychiatrist to assess you can take a long time and be very expensive if those things aren't covered for you financially, so if you can't find someone else the best advice I can give is to advocate for yourself. You are an adult and you know yourself well, you know where you need support and what struggles you face, and you have to try your best to make that clear to your therapist. If you have any friends or teachers or other family (siblings, cousins, aunts or uncles, etc) that have known you since childhood or even in high school and you feel safe asking this of them, having them write something short vouching for you can help. Explaining that your parents are resistant to the idea of you having ADHD and are unwilling to help shouldn't close you off from receiving a DX, and as difficult as it is you might have to fight for yourself on this topic with your therapist. I'm afraid I can't give you any easy answers or solutions but I wish you luck in your endeavors and hope you find the answers you seek. ❤️

[kdwellness01]

Psychological Assessment Ontario

Psychological Assessment Ontario offers comprehensive evaluations to understand cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Our expert psychologists provide tailored assessments for individuals of all ages, helping diagnose mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and more. Trust us for accurate, insightful results that guide effective treatment plans and support personal growth.

[compassmedicalclinic]

ADHD Assessments

A primary healthcare and well-equipped medical facility clinic called Compass Medical Clinic is situated in North York, Canada. For the best medical care, make an appointment with one of Ontario, California's top doctors. Print the forms, then fill them out as instructed by your healthcare provider. The forms will provide information about your performance in a range of life areas to the qualified medical professional who reviews them as part of an overall ADHD assessment. To find out more, visit our website.

[pieties]

I think I'm gonna try to get assessed for autism and adhd in Ontario... it's $2k in Quebec which is stupid as fuck. What's also stupid is that I didn't get a proper adhd asessment in hs because one of my teachers said she didn't believe in mental illnesses or neurodivergence. Later I found out she didn't believe that the Holocaust happened either lmao. Anyway I am struggling constantly in social situations, can never make eye contact, I'm always confused and anxious and it's affecting me bad

[cutiekaboom]

Features Of Online Dispensary Ontario

When most people hear of cannabis, they think weed, chronic, marijuana, an illegal herb that can trigger lengthy jail terms where the authorities throw the key away. Some people have learned that you can be made crazy by the use of marijuana. How many of you understood, however, there was another side to the use of marijuana. Yes! Yes! Outside of drug use in recreation. You may want to check out Get More Info for more.

Marijuana aids in the suffering of A.I.D.S, cancer, multiple sclerosis. Different studies have shown that cannabis can be helpful in coping with alcohol misuse, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or AD/HD), collagen-induced arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, bipolar disorder, colorectal cancer, depression, diabetic retinopathy, dystonia, epilepsy, digestive disorders, gliomas, hepatitis C, Huntington's disease, hypertension, urinary incontinence, leprosy, leprosy, However, confirmation of these findings regarding some of these statements involves longer, controlled studies on broader samples. Which might not happen due to this magnificent herb's criminal status

Although the degree of the therapeutic value of cannabis has been questioned, it does have some well-documented beneficial effects, despite the resistance to research and usage put forward by most national governments. These include: improvement of nausea and vomiting, relaxation of appetite in patients with chemotherapy and AIDS, reduced intraocular pressure of the eyes (shown to be successful in treating glaucoma), as well as general analgesic effects (pain relief). In reality, in China and India, marijuana was used as early as 3000 B.C. To treat a number of disorders, from relieving childbirth pain to relieving symptoms of asthma and epilepsy, and even improving appetite and mental or emotional dispositions.

In fact, when it came to medical care in the U.S.A. before 1930, marijuana was the weapon of choice. Cannabis was used in the treatment of all sorts of diseases, from tooth ache to many types of anxiety disorders. In recent times, however, marijuana, also known as cannabis, has once again found popularity in the therapeutic arena. This was influenced by researchers studying methods of assessing cannabis intoxication when they found that intraocular pressure was lowered by smoking the drug. Thus, attempts to further investigate the therapeutic benefits of marijuana are being launched.

[kdwellness01]

Psychological Assessment Ontario

Psychological Assessment Ontario offers comprehensive evaluations to understand cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Our expert psychologists provide tailored assessments for individuals of all ages, helping diagnose mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and more. Trust us for accurate, insightful results that guide effective treatment plans and support personal growth.

[homeopathyschooltoronto]

RESEARCH: ADHD & Homeopathy. An open-label pilot study of homeopathic treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and youth.
 Patients and methods: Participants (aged 6-16) were recruited through community advertisement and outreach. Participants completed 1 screening and 9 individualized homeopathic follow-up consultations. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Conners 3 - Parent Questionnaire administered at each consultation. The pre- and post-study difference in Conners Global Index - Parent (CGI-P) T-score was evaluated for each participant. Baseline data of those who showed a statistically significant improvement (responders) were compared to those who did not (non-responders). Results: 35 participants were enrolled over 11 months. 80% completed all 10 consultations in a median of 12.1 months. 63% had a statistically significant improvement in the primary outcome, first occurring after a mean of 4.5 visits. Overall scores for participants completing at least 2 data points decreased from a baseline median of 85.5 to 74.0 (p < 0.001, CI 95%). There were no significant baseline differences between responders and non-responders. No serious adverse events related to the therapy were reported. Conclusion: The change in the median CGI-P T-score from baseline to the end of this open-label pilot study was statistically significant. The research methods are feasible. Future studies are warranted. Read more: https://bit.ly/3mLQqzo @homeopathy_school_in_toronto #pilhomeopathy #scientificevidence #scientificresearch #researchers #homeopathy #homeopathic #homeopati #homeopatia #homeopatía #homeopathie #homeopath #homeopathicmedicine #homeopata #homeopathicremedy #homeopathichealth #homeopathyworks #homeopathyheals #homeopathyrocks #homeopathyforall #homeopathyworksforme #traditionalmedicine #integratedmedicine #growthmindset #adhd #adhdawareness #mindbodyconnection #adhdparenting #adhdtips #adhdtherapy #homeopathyresearch (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHFiffvM2dm/?igshid=ekmdi3j5c7r4

[elipinski]

CARING FOR OLDER ADULTS: WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW?

Access to care

The fastest growing age group in Ontario are seniors who are 65 years and older and it is projected that by the year 2041, 25% of Ontario’s population will be over the age of 65 (Government of Ontario, 2017)  The provincial government launched a plan recognizing the need to enhance the lives of Ontario seniors so that they can remain independent, healthy and socially connected at all stages of their lives (ibid). This in keeping with the activity theory, which posits that the way to age optimally is to remain as active as possible in three areas: physical, mental and social (Palmore, 2017). Even though this plan was launched under the previous provincial government, the current government also seems to have a focus on improving and supporting the lives of older adults as outlined below..

A plan from the current Ontario provincial government

https://budget.ontario.ca/2018/chapter-1.html

One issue that was not addressed in Ontario’s action plan for seniors was improving timely access to psychiatric care. For seniors who are living with mental illness, it is important that they have timely access to care as poor outcomes have been linked to delayed treatment (Loebach & Ayoubzadeh, 2017). The government of Ontario has been successful in implementing mandatory reporting wait times for many surgical and medical services which has led to great improvements in wait times for cataract surgery (61% reduction), hip replacements (53% reduction), coronary angiography (51% reduction) and cancer surgery (22% reduction) (ibid). Psychiatry services for mental health care in Ontario have lengthy wait times and there are no mandatory reporting wait times for these services (Loebach & Ayoubzadeh, 2017). This will be an important issue that the government will have to address as our population continues to age and as they move to integrating the healthcare system.

(Loebach & Ayoubzadeh, 2017).

28 days – Wait-time averages for various psychiatric services suggested by Canadian Psychiatric Association

45 days – Average wait for adult mental health counselling and treatment

57 days – Average wait for outpatient services for mood disorders

47 days – Average wait for inpatient services for mood disorders

References

Government of Ontario. (2017). Aging with Confidence: Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors. Government of Ontario. Retrieved from https://files.ontario.ca/ontarios_seniors_strategy_2017.pdf

Loebach, R., & Ayoubzadeh, S. (2017). Wait times for psychiatric care in Ontario. University of Western Ontario Medical Journal.https://doi.org/10.5206/uwomj.v86i2.2027

Palmore, E. B. (2017). Auto-Gerontology: A Personal Odyssey. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 36(11), 1295–1305. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464816648140

Robinson, K. M. (2010). Policy Issues in Mental Health Among the Elderly. Nursing Clinics of North America. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2010.06.005

Polypharmacy and medication safety

Polypharmacy in an aging population

Polypharmacy is classified as the use of five or more prescription medications and is common among seniors and can lead to decreased compliance with medication routines and problems with drug interactions (Reason, Terner, Moses McKeag, Tipper, & Webster, 2012). The use of prescription medication increases with age partly due to multiple illnesses in older adults and it is therefore crucial that doctors effectively manage prescription medication (Reason et al., 2012). Due to physiological changes that occur as we age that change the way the body responds to and processes medication, older adults are at increased risk of adverse drug reactions (ADR) such as unsteadiness, confusion, delirium, depression and dependence (Bernier, 2017). It is essential to complete medication reviews and have discussions about side effects with older adults and because of the physiological changes associated with aging, there may be a need to change medication dosages and routines to decrease the risk of ADRs (Reason et al., 2012).  

Here are some startling numbers on medication use in older adults

66.1% of seniors took 5 or more drugs; 28.0% took 10 or more drugs; and 9.3% took 15 or more drugs (2014).

39% of Canadians in long-term-care received at least one antipsychotic (2014).

Only 4% of seniors in British Columbia in residential care have a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder, BUT 34% are on antipsychotic medications (2015).

Over 27,000 Canadian seniors had an adverse drug related reaction leading to hospitalization (2011).

The biomedical model presumes that mental illnesses like schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and substance use disorders are biologically based brain disorders (Deacon, 2013). Treatment mainly involves prescribing psychotropic drugs to modify/improve bio-chemical imbalances (Horgan, n.d., Module 4). When medication is prescribed to at risk populations, supervising them can be very complicated and physicians may need access to electronic medical records and to consult with a clinical pharmacist who can play an important role of completing medication reviews and educating patients and other team members about safer medication usage (Bernier, 2017). Having team members working as part of an interdisciplinary team can improve the management of patient medication. Having a trusting multidisciplinary team relationship is important for effective collaboration, communication and knowledge sharing (Kirst et al., 2017). It is also important that when individuals visit different care providers that there is a coordination of information regarding drug prescriptions otherwise there is a risk of over prescribing. An integrated care system would minimize this risk an decrease the risk of ADR for older adults with normal and abnormal mental health issues. 

 References

Bernier, N. F. (2017). Improving Prescription Drug Safety for Canadian Seniors. Ideas Analysis Debate Since.

Deacon, B. J. (2013). The biomedical model of mental disorder: A critical analysis of its validity, utility, and effects on psychotherapy research. Clinical Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2012.09.007

Horgan, 2 (n.d.) Module 4: Models of mental health care.[Power point presentation].  Retrieved from Queen’s university website

Kirst, M., Im, J., Burns, T., Baker, G. R., Goldhar, J., O’Campo, P., … Wodchis, W. P. (2017). What works in implementation of integrated care programs for older adults with complex needs? A realist review. International Journal for Quality in Health Care. https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzx095

Reason, B., Terner, M., Moses McKeag, A., Tipper, B., & Webster, G. (2012). The impact of polypharmacy on the health of Canadian seniors. Family Practice.https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmr124

SLUCare Physician Group (2016). Polypharmacy in an aging population. [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0DaJhQDQ_Y

Falls

The leading cause of injury and death among older adults and a significant public health issue is falls which affect one in three adults over the age of 65 every year and 50% percent of adults over the age of 80 (Ambrose, Paul, & Hausdorff, 2013). Experiencing a fall can be devastating both physical and psychologically and could result in disability, chronic pain, loss of independence, reduced quality of life, and even death (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2014).

  Images from OccupationalTherapy.com

In 2018, the province of Ontario introduced the falls prevention equipment funding policy with the purpose of providing additional funding to Long-Term Care (LTC) homes to acquire equipment including devices and assistive aids that will help prevent residents from falling or suffering injuries from falls (Ministry of health and long-term care, 2018) .With this funding comes the expectations that LTC home will maintain or improve their performance measures on residents who are falling or being transferred to the hospital for fall related incidents (ibid). With the prevalence of falls among seniors, the focus of health care providers should also be in assessing for falls risk factors and address modifiable factors. Implementing a checklist such as one below as part of a healthcare providers assessment could be a first step in decreasing the risk of falls in older adults with normal or abnormal mental health issues.

References

Ambrose, A. F., Paul, G., & Hausdorff, J. M. (2013). Risk factors for falls among older adults: A review of the literature. Maturitas.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.02.009

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. (2018). Falls prevention equipment funding policy . Retrieved from: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ltc/docs/Falls_Prevention_Funding_Policy.pdf

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2014). Seniors’ falls in Canada: second report. Ottawa, ON: Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Health. Retrieved from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/publications/public/injury-blessure/seniors_fallschutes_aines/assets/pdf/seniors_falls-chutes_aines-eng.pdf.