Behavioural Response Team

As a specialty service within the Adult Mental Health Care Program at London Health Sciences Centre, the Behavioural Response Team (also known as the Behavioural Supports Ontario Mobile Team), is a multidisciplinary team that provides assessment and treatment to older adults and their care partners living with moderate to high risk behaviours. Service is usually provided where the patient lives - private residence, retirement home or long-term care home.

We value

Quality clinical care that recognizes the unique mental health needs of older adults and those who care for them.
Collaboration with community agencies and care partners.
Our team considers behavioural expressions as a person’s attempt to communicate an unmet need.

Service Description

The Behavioural Response Team provides assessment and treatment for adults age 65 and older who experience mental health disorders in late life including:

Dementia and related disorders
Complex Mental Health disorders (e.g. mood disorders, psychotic disorders)
Substance use
Our in-depth assessments consider the entire person: Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Capabilities, Environmental and Social (PIECES).
Education of formal and informal caregivers and professionals providing care for the elderly.
Service includes person-centred recommendations and strategies to minimize risk to the patient and others (e.g. co-residents and formal and informal caregivers).
Referrals for adults under 65 accepted if they are living with an age-related condition (e.g. early onset dementia, Huntington’s Disease).

Treatments offered:

Please note that treatments are provided based on individual needs that may include:
Practical ideas to reduce risk for the client and/or others.
Care giver education
Consultation with a geriatric psychiatrist for medication recommendations (when appropriate)
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Psycho-educational groups

Our team

The team consists of occupational therapists, a psychologist, social workers, therapeutic recreation specialists and registered nurses. Based on assessment results, consultation with a psychiatrist with specialized training in care of those age 65 and older is available.

Area served

London and Middlesex County

Referrals

Anyone can refer as long as the patient and/or caregiver provide consent.
Completion of our Geriatric Mental Health Referral Form and further information including: behaviours of risk, potential triggers and/or contributing factors and a list of current medications.

Completed referrals are sent to centralized intake at Parkwood Institute through the Geriatric Ambulatory Access Team (GAAT). GAAT professionals review referral details and triage to our service when referral criteria are met.

GAAT Contact Information: