Huntington's Disease

Admissions Criteria

We care for informal and detained adult and older-adult males with: 

• a formal psychiatric or neurological HD diagnosis
• co-morbid physical or mental health needs
• a history of emotional and behavioural difficulties including aggression to others and who are considered a risk to themselves or others
• a forensic or absconding risk requiring a managed locked environment
• difficulties with self-regulation and control
• problems in interpersonal relationships
• a history of treatment resistance
• a history of non-compliance with prescribed medication

Walton ward at a glance:

• 14 beds with 8 en-suite
• extensive MDT with specialist input including Dieticians, GP and podiatry
• visitors room
• one lounge area
• HD garden (designed by Alan Gardner)
• one courtyard
• disability access shower and bath rooms
• Therapy Kitchen
• easy access to physio room.

On-site MDT and tailored environments

Our on-site MDT is expert in the assessment, treatment and management of HD and is permanently based on-site to meet the daily needs of people living with HD, including those who present with behaviours that challenge, sexual disinhibition and self-harm, as well as those with a forensic history.

Our therapeutic environment is designed to create a welcoming and reinforcing experience for patients in our care. In partnership with patients and their family our MDT construct programmes that utilise a full range of psychological and occupational therapy programmes which: 

• are highly structured and tailored to the individual
• provide constant guidance and support to reinforce appropriate behaviour and skills
• cater for those with intensive, complex acute needs
• are delivered by an extensive full-time team
• address functional and behavioural issues such as communication, movement, self-care, dis-inhibition and aggression
• carry out expert management of dysphagia and PEG feeding
• address, monitor and maintain optimal physical health

Person-centred assessment guides our treatment

Our staff has extensive experience in supporting people living with HD.  Their goal is to facilitate and maximise function and quality of life, whilst ensuring the best possible support for individual autonomy.

Each person is provided with a tailored treatment programme that is designed in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and in line with our treatment aims, to maximise functional independence and good physical and mental health. 

To support our care planning we routinely use: 

• RAID®   (Reinforce Appropriate: Implode Disruptive)
• Dementia Care Mapping   (DCM)
• Overt-Aggression Scale – modified for Neurorehabilitation    (OAS-MNR)
• HoNOS secure
• START