The Older Adults section was formed in 1994, by a small group of interested clinicians. Some of these were psychiatrists specialising in services for the over 65 age range; others were psychoanalytic therapists who had experience in treating older adults. The founding chairman was Dr Ruth Porter. The broad aim of the Section is to bring together previously somewhat disparate workers in the field, and foster increased knowledge and expertise in psychoanalytic thinking as applied to patients in later life. NHS Services for the elderly, although accepting of the multidisciplinary ethos have been relatively deprived of a psychoanalytic approach. Fortunately this position is changing, and such services are beginning to appreciate the potential value of psychoanalytic thinking as applied to individual patients, staff and the service as a whole. During the first five years of its existence the Older Adults Section, through the conference committee of the APP, has organised two successful multidisciplinary conferences open to professionals wishing to increase their theoretical knowledge and clinical skills. In 1998 members of the Section ran a series of four evening lectures and workshops at St Bartholomew's Hospital, based on various themes relating to difficulties in clinical work within elderly mental health services.
The Older Adults subcommittee currently comprises individuals from psychiatry, psychology and music therapy. It meets approximately four times yearly.
Mark Ardern, Chair - A.P.P. Council Member,Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry, St Charles Hospital
Jane GarnerSecretary - Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry,Chase Farm Hospital, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 8JL
Sian Critchley, - Robbins Clinical Psychologist, Oxleas NHS Trust, Eltham, London SE9 5DL
Rachel Darnley-Smith - Head Music Therapist and Professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, St Anns Hospital, London N15
Sandra Evans - Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry and Group Analyst,St Batholomews Hospital, London EC1
Sue Isaacs Elmhurst - Retired Child Psychoanalyst, London NW3
Carol Martin - Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, The University of Leeds
Ruth Porter - Retired Medical Psychotherapist, Cheltenham
Educational: 21/22 February 2000 (Jointly with the Tavistock Centre, London NW3) conference entitled: "Room to Manoeuvre: depression and dementia. Current trends in psychodynamic thinking". 2/3 April 2001 (Jointly with the Tavistock Centre, London NW3) conference entitled: "Looking into later life: Psychodynamic Perspective on Observation and Therapeutic Interventions".
Publications: The Older Adults Section is compiling a list of publications by Committee members in Autumn 1999, which will be available on request.
Clinical: Although members cannot provide individual supervision of practitioners, it is possible, by arrangement, for members to contribute to workshops organised externally. Conference organisers should approach either individuals or contact the chairman or secretary.
Liaison: The Older Adults Section maintains links with other professional organisations including:
During the next year there is likely to be a conference organised by the A.P.P., to which several sections (including the Older Adults Section) will contribute.
Dr Mark Ardern, Chairman: 0208 962 4106
Dr Jane Garner, Secretary: 0208 366 9147
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