OPEN Dementia Crisis Service

The OPEN Dementia Crisis Service (ODCS) is an acute crisis outreach service that provides expert geriatric behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) crisis care in the community (including RACH residents).  The team includes a specialist geriatrician, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse consultant, clinical nurses, social worker and pharmacists.

This service aims to prevent the avoidable hospitalisation/representation of people with moderate to very severe BPSD at risk of significant misadventure.  Significant misadventure may include:

• Loss of relationships / social supports
• Loss of accommodation / residence
• Loss of personal identify / dignity
• Risk of causing physical, sexual or financial harm to self and others

Inclusion criteria

• Aged over 65 years, or over 50 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Moderate to very severe BPSD (Brodaty Tier 4
  to 6)
• Requires urgent specialist BPSD crisis support that cannot be delayed for more than 1 week
• Resides in Caboolture or Redcliffe catchments (other catchments can be discussed case by case)

Exclusion criteria

• Imminent risk of harm to self or others requiring hospital transfer
• Non-acute BPSD that can be better met by other services (category 2 or 3 Specialist Outpatients referral)
• Community dweller with no formal or informal supports
• RACH resident that can be managed by their local RADAR team
• Patient (if have capacity) or family do not consent to receiving support from ODCS

Other factors for consideration

• BPSD crisis support that can be delayed up to 4 weeks
• Lives with dependants and exhibits aggressive or sexually disinhibited behaviour
• Aged under 65 years, or under 50 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Current inpatient requiring additional support for planned discharge into the community
• ODCS capacity to accept new referrals.

How to refer

Complete our referral form and please email it to ODDIS@health.qld.gov.au.

Contact us

For further information, you can contact the ODCS team 7 days a week via:

Email ODDIS@health.qld.gov.au or phone 0472 862 663 (0730 – 1600hrs)