Mental health problems in the elderly such as depression and dementia cause significant disability. The National Mental Health Survey showed that the prevalence of dementia in those aged above 60 to be 5.2% while the prevalence of depression was 3.1% (Chiam et al, 2004).

CPGP Project Director, Dr Ng Li Ling, Senior Consultant of Psychological Medicine, CGH said, “Unfortunately, these disorders are often unidentified and when left untreated will adversely affect the quality of life of older persons and their families.”

The CPGP aims to address some of these issues through three approaches. First, CGH will build community capabilities by training GPs and staff in eldercare agencies such as the Senior Activity Centres and Day Care Centres to recognise and manage mental problems in the elderly.

Second, a community network linking the eldercare agencies, GPs and hospitals will be built so that the appropriate referral, assessment and management can be made.

Third, to reach out to mentally ill elderly patients who are unable or unwilling to see a doctor at the hospital, the CPGP team will visit them at home.

The CGH team running CPGP is multi-disciplinary and consists of geriatric psychiatrists, geriatric and psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologist, medical social workers, occupational therapist and physiotherapist.

The pilot phase of this programme by CGH will cover the areas administered by the Northeast and Southeast CDC. Progressively, the CPGP will be extended to the entire country. A team at IMH will set up a programme for the central region of Singapore by 2008 and a team at Alexandra Hospital will set up a programme for the west by 2009.

General Practitioners who are interested in this programme can contact the CPGP office at Tel : 68501841/40 or cpgp@cgh.com.sg.
Referral forms can be found at http://www.cgh.com.sg/medical/files/CPGP%20REFERRAL%20FORM%20-%20Pilot.pdf