Using the Multidisciplinary Team

This chapter presents a case study that illustrates the difficulty in identifying which member of an elderly couple, who have had a long-term, interdependent relationship, may be suffering from a psychiatric disturbance. The case study also illustrates the overarching importance of the multidisciplinary team to provide joined-up thinking, particularly when two elderly patients are living together as is often the case with dementia. This team not only manages the patient with dementia but also helps the carers to cope with acute as well as chronic problems. Furthermore a multidisciplinary team which works effectively is vital to keep GPs updated about their patients' care both in hospital and when they are discharged home. One of the key aims of the multidisciplinary team is to maintain the patients' quality of life and to ensure they stay at home for as long as possible.