Mental Health of Older Adults Team

Grainne Dempsey | Clinical Nurse Specialist

RPN, Diploma in Counselling, PG Dip in Professional Nursing, MSc in Gerontological Nursing - Thesis on Falls Prevention

Grainne is a graduate of TCD with 26 years experience working in all areas of St Patrick's University Hospital and is now specialising in care of the older person. Grainne helps to coordinate and implement individual care plans, works with families of in-patients and liaises with primary care teams in the community. Grainne has a specialist educational role in raising the profile of gerontological nursing.

Brendan Gogan | Clinical Nurse Manager

R.P.N., B.N.S. Postgraduate Diploma in Health Care Management

Brendan's specialist interest area is old age psychiatry and he has worked as a staff nurse in acute psychiatry for seven years. He also has experience in treating acutely unwell patients in their home. Brendan is actively involved in staff training and course development within the hospital.

Clare Hennigan | Occupational Therapist

(BScOT)

Clare has experience working as an Occupational Therapist in mental health and care of the elderly since her graduation from Trinity College in 2007. Within St. Patrick's Hospital, Clare has provided Occupational Therapy services as part of Day Services, the Recovery Programme, Dean Clinics and is currently working on Vanessa ward. Clare is currently undertaking a Masters degree in Evidence-based Therapy Practice in University College Cork (UCC).

Dr Declan Lyons | Consultant Psychiatrist

PhD, MSc, MRCP (UK) MRCPsych

Declan has been a Consultant Psychiatrist at St. Patrick’s University Hospital since 2001. Having trained in medicine for the elderly initially, his psychiatric training took place at St. Patrick’s University Hospital and at the Maudsley Hospital in London. He is director of the Evergreen programme for older adults which emphasises positive aging and enhanced independent living for older adults with mental health problems. Declan jointly conducts a memory clinic with the psychology department at the hospital with focus on early detection of dementia and other causes of memory disorders. He has particular clinical and research interests in late life depression, medical education and management and lectures at Trinity College on psychiatry and ethical issues applied to medical practice.

Prof Declan McLoughlin | Research Professor of Psychiatry

PhD MRCPI MRCPsych

Declan M McLoughlin is Research Professor of Psychiatry in St Patrick's University Hospital and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He qualified from University College Dublin in 1986 and trained in general medicine and psychiatry in both Dublin and London. His research interests include brain stimulation techniques for neuropsychiatric disorders and molecular psychiatry. Declan specialises in the mental health of older adults (i.e > 65 years) and also have consultant responsibility for the hospital's ECT Clinic. Specialist areas include depression, cognitive impairment (e.g. memory problems), dementia (e.g. Alzheimer's disease) and electroconvulsive therapy.

Dr. Rebecca Quin | Senior Clinical Psychologist

Sch, BA, MSc, D Clin Psych, Reg Psychol (PsSI)

Rebecca is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, University of Wales, Bangor and University of Limerick. She has a special interest in the clinical psychology of ageing, and neuropsychology. She has worked at the Institute of Psychiatry with older adults with Parkinson’s Disease and their carers, and has also worked at Enable Ireland with children with autism and intellectual disability. Rebecca currently delivers psychological assessment and intervention to older adults in the hospital and also works in the Memory Clinic where she conducts neuropsychological assessments.

Marian Reilly | C.N.M.2

R.G.N R.P.N

Marian has more than 30 years experience working in Mental Health. She qualified as a R.G.N. in St James Hospital and completed her Post-graduate training in Mental Health in St Patrick's University Hospital. Marian's specialist area is the Mental Health of older adults and was involved in the set up of Vanessa Ward as care of older adults. Marian is involved in overseeing the development of careplans, education of clients and their familys, ongoing education of the nursing staff and maintaining the highest standard of nursing care.

Naoise Waldron | Social Worker

BSocSc, MSocSc, NQSW

Naoise has been working as a social worker on the Mental Health of Older Adults team since joining St Patrick's University Hospital in February 2011. Naoise works with service users and their families by providing information, advice, counselling and advocacy.

Since qualifying as a social worker in 2008, Naoise has worked in the areas of general medicine, child protection and paediatrics, both in Ireland and Australia.

Breda Downey Walsh | Clinical Nurse Manager

C.N.M.1 R.P.N R.G.N. H.Dip. Counselling /Psychotherapy

Breda trained as a R.P.N. As post-graduate qualified as a R.G.N in Dr Steven's Hospital. She has many years of experience working in Mental Health, dealing with all aspects of mental illness. Breda worked as part of the team that developed the first Dean Clinics in Lucan and Cork. This involved 1:1 therapy, liasing with families and GP's. Breda is presently working as a C.N. M. 1 in Vanessa Ward care of the older adult.