Survey of aged psychiatry services' support of older Australians with very severe, persistent behavioural symptoms of dementia.

OBJECTIVE: To map the provision of community, acute, non-acute and residential care-based state-funded mental health services to older people with severe, persistent behavioural symptoms of dementia.

METHODS: An electronic survey was completed in 2015 by senior representatives of aged persons' mental health services across Australia's six states.

RESULTS: Jurisdictions varied widely in the number, geographic spread and make-up of aged persons' mental health community teams when adjusted for aged population; their number of acute and non-acute beds, and especially in the provision of specialist residential beds or partnerships with non-government providers.

CONCLUSION: There is no nationally accepted pathway of care for this vulnerable group or understanding of what constitutes an adequate statewide mental health service.