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Who is the Geriatric and Adult Mental Health Specialty Team?
The Geriatric and Adult Mental Health Specialty Team (GAMHST) is a NC State Funded
Program that is comprised of three members: a Registered Nurse, a master’s level clinician, and a
qualified mental health professional. GAMSHT is designed to work with direct care
staff, family members, and other caregivers.
How do I Contact a Geriatric and Adult Mental Health Specialty Team
Member?
The SMC Western Region GAMSHT team serves Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood,
Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties.
The SMC Northern Region GAMHST team serves Wilkes, Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga,
Avery, Iredell, Surry, and Yadkin Counties.
The SMC Central Region GAMHST team serves Alexander, Caldwell, McDowell,
Burke and Catawba Counties.
Contact a team member to receive additional information. Referral for services can be made by
telephone contact. In addition, we would like to share our new toll free fax number 1-877-355-2436.
This fax number will provide more access for referrals from SMC staff, providers and community caregivers, which will
enhance supports from the Geriatric and Adult Mental Health Specialty Teams (GAMHST).
Western Region
Northern Region
Central Region
What Support can I Expect from the Geriatric and Adult Mental Health
Specialty Team?
Services are available to Long-Term Care facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and caregivers
providing care to adults in a residential home who are 60 years of age or older with mental
illness (i.e. depression) and at risk for psychiatric hospitalization. GAMHST also provides
services to caregivers of adults under age 60 that have geriatric-like needs (i.e. early onset
dementia). Examples of services offered are:
For Facilities/Psychiatric Hospitals:
- Free education and consultation for client specific needs for persons residing in
nursing homes, adult care homes or family care homes.
- Assistance with discharge planning from psychiatric inpatient settings to
community-based settings.
- Hospital diversion support for persons at risk for psychiatric hospitalizations.
For Family Members/Caregivers:
- Free in-home education and support for family members and other caregivers.
- Facilitate access to community resources and provide support to caregivers.
When to Make a Referral?
GAMHST services are available to caregivers of consumers of any mental health provider’s services
when the following criteria are met:
- The person needing care must be age 60 or above, have a mental illness, and be at risk
for psychiatric hospitalization. There must be a caregiver involved.
OR
- The person needing care is under age 60, but has “geriatric-like” needs, for example
early onset dementia.
Some examples of times when a mental health provider might make a GAMHST referral are:
- Mobile Crisis/or other provider is involved with a situation where a psychiatric
hospitalization was averted, but the caregiver needs education to better understand the
needs/behaviors of an appropriate consumer. For example, Mobile Crisis was called due to
behaviors of a person with Alzheimer’s disease.
- Mental health provider has a consumer who is in the hospital with a discharge plan to
return home to the care of a family member or friend. GAMHST can provide education to the
caregiver either in anticipation of the discharge or after the discharge has occurred.
- Mental health provider is involved with a consumer who is a caregiver of a person meeting
the criteria noted above. The caregiver may need extra education that could reduce some of the
stresses of caregiving and improve the care the person is able to provide. Example: an adult
child who is a consumer of mental health services (perhaps has depression) caring for an aged
parent who has Alzheimer’s disease and behavior issues.
How to Make a Referral?
Referrals can be made by completing the document below with as much information as possible. Referrals can
also be made by phone. Please see contact in the information for the Western Region,
Central Region, Northern Region listed above. All services
provided by GAMHST are free. Upon GAMHST's receipt of this referral, a caregiver can expect contact within
two business days from a GAMHST member.
GAMHST Referral Form - [ Word DOC ] - UPDATED 08/2012
What Trainings are Available?
Trainings vary from team to team in length and topic. Please click on the links below to find out
what trainings are offered in your area.
Click here for a list of available Western Region presentations... - [ Adobe PDF ] - UPDATED 01/10/2012
Click here for a list of available Northern Region presentations... - [ Adobe PDF ]
Click here for a list of available Central Region presentations...
Brochures for Download
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