Marjorie Phillips Unit is a 20 bed purpose built inpatient facility providing specialist inpatient care to older people with a mental illness or dementia. Eight beds accommodate acute psychiatric admissions and twelve beds are dedicated for dementia assessment. These programs are currently co-located.

Marjorie Phillips Unit is fully equipped to provide treatment of acute mental health issues. This unique facility also provides a comprehensive inpatient dementia assessment service. This service provide assessment of physical and behavioural aspects of dementia, with the development of comprehensive management plans to assist in the client being managed at home or in generic aged care facility.

Staffing in the unit consists of RN Div.1 and 3 as well as RN Div.2 nurses, social worker, occupational therapist and cleaning & domestic staff. Medical services are provided by a psychiatrist and a registrar for patients in the acute beds and a geriatrician and a resident for patients in the dementia assessment beds.

Service access/entry criteria:

• People aged 65 and older; and
• Who have, or appear to have, a mental illness; and/or
• Exhibit behaviour that cannot be managed by other aged care service;
• In some cases indicated by clinical assessment, Aged Persons Mental Health Service will provide service to people aged under 65 years who exhibit symptoms of degenerative diseases associated with ageing such as pre-senile dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Service coverage:

Marjorie Phillips Unit is located in Bendigo, however older people throughout the Loddon Campaspe/Southern Mallee region can be admitted to the unit.

Referrals:

Referrals to Marjorie Phillips Unit are by general practitioners, acute, sub-acute and residential care providers.

Fees:

There is no client fee for this service.

Waiting list:

There is a waiting list for admission to Marjorie Phillips Unit and beds are allocated on a priority need basis.