The Older Adults Therapeutic Service (OATS) is built on principles of recovery through community connection, and therapeutic and meaningful support (including from peers). A Black Country hub with support available in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton means people will have a choice about where they access groups and 1-1 interventions.
The service receives referrals for:
- Older adults under the care of the enhanced community mental health team for older adults (ECMHTOA)
- People of any age with a diagnosis of dementia from Memory Assessment Services or local partner dementia services, Admiral Nursing Service or Enhanced Community Mental Health Team for Older Adults.
The service offers an assessment at home or another suitable venue to establish a person's therapeutic needs and then offers time limited specialised interventions within OATS or connects the person to a group/community organisation- wherever is best placed to meet the needs identified.
OATS Hub
Blakenall Village Centre
Walsall
WS3 1LZ
Tel: 0121 803 2345
Please email bchft.oatsreferrals@nhs.net for a copy of the up to date referral form.
Older Adults Therapeutic Service group celebrates individuality through artwork
Identity, values and beliefs were explored and celebrated by participants in a therapy group with the Older Adults Therapeutic Service (OATS).
Patients in the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy group in Wolverhampton worked together to construct a group values and beliefs tree.
From family and sunshine to music and friendship, the group got creative through hand drawings to illustrate what matters to them and makes them individuals.
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) aims to actively stimulate and engage people with mild to moderate Dementia within a friendly, sociable environment.
Gemma Lockley, Clinical Lead for the Older Adults Therapeutic Service, said: “They found the session really enjoyable and developed a deep connectedness with each other throughout the session.
“The patients reflected that it helped them to emphasise their own identity and not be defined by their diagnosis.”
OATS staff reflected afterwards that many of the patients’ own values closely aligned to the Trust’s new values of compassion, accountability, respect and empowerment. The staff noted how stimulating the patients found the session and showed a great level of compassion to each other and themselves throughout the activity.
The creations of the group reflect the brilliant work being done by OATS teams, as they use community connection and meaningful support to aid the quality of life for older adults with Dementia across the Black Country.