Geriatric Inpatient Behavioral Health Services

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In response to the unique needs of older adults, Commonwealth Health Moses Taylor Hospital has developed a specialized inpatient behavioral health unit. Behavioral Health Services provides short term psychiatric treatment for those aged 55 years and older, a population recognized locally as our fastest growing segment. The unit focuses on helping older adults achieve the highest level of functioning through maintaining or improving cognitive skills, developing social skills and self-esteem, maintaining or improving physical health, and providing other individualized treatment. The staff shares a strong commitment to respecting the dignity of older adults while encouraging them to reach their fullest potential.

We work closely with the patient, family and health care providers to help patients with:

• Grief and loneliness
• Age-related changes in function and thinking
• Dementia-related issues
• Depression and anxiety
• Marital, family and social problems
• Schizophrenia and other psychoses

Admission Criteria
Patients can be evaluated in any hospital emergency department. They will be evaluated by a registered nurse and a psychiatrist. Before admission, patients must fit the following criteria:

• Must be 55 years of age or older
• Must receive primary psychiatric diagnosis requiring acute inpatient treatment
• Must be able to participate in unit activities and benefit from a therapeutic setting and treatment program
• Must be medically cleared before admission
• If a patient has acute medical illnesses which require intensive inpatient care, those illnesses must be treated on a medical unit prior to admission

Services
We provide psychiatric and medical evaluation and treatment using all of our hospital resources. The interdisciplinary approach includes a team of specialists, including the psychiatrist, psychiatrist social worker, psychiatric nursing staff and allied therapists who meet regularly to assess individuals’ needs and to plan, implement and evaluate care.

The care team offers patients:

• Medical consultations and 24 hour skilled nursing care
• Individual care plans to alleviate treatable psychiatric conditions and manage progressive problems
• Neurological evaluations, EEGs, CT scans and MRIs, when appropriate
• Dietary consultations and education
• Discharge planning with each patient and his/her family, including community placement in the most positive long term setting
• Education about disease process and symptom management
• Individual, group and family therapy
• Nursing education groups
• Social work groups
• Art/music/spirituality/recreational therapy (Patients may participate in a variety of therapeutic activities to communicate their feelings through different forms of expression)
• Occupational therapy and physical therapy (If appropriate, patients will receive therapy to help them once again perform daily living tasks)
• Educational programs available in the community

Compassionate Care
Mental health can change dramatically with advanced age. Professional medical and psychiatric help may become essential. Even an infection or interaction from medication can have dramatic effect on mental health.

The professionals who staff the Behavioral Health Services for Older Adults programs specialize in providing life enhancing care for older adults. They take pride in providing compassionate treatment that best addresses each patient’s mental health and related needs.

We understand the many ways behavioral health issues can impact older adults. We are also sensitive to emotions of family members who have been struggling to comfort their loved ones. With the Behavioral Health Services for Older Adults programs, we developed specialized programming with the goal of improving the quality of life of patients while also working to alleviate many of the fears and frustrations that their family members are experiencing.

Assessment and Treatment
Upon admission, each patient receives a complete psychiatric and medical evaluation by both an attending psychiatrist and medical internist or family practitioner. Members of the treatment team work with the patient, family, referral source and community service agencies to provide a plan of care for each individual. Treatment plans address life skills, medication education, recreational therapies and exercise. Placement issues and options are also explored with the patient and family, when appropriate.

Admissions and Referral
We accept inquiries and referrals by family members, health care providers, nursing home care providers, social workers and individuals. For patient referrals, or for more information regarding the geriatric psychiatric services, please call Moses Taylor Hospital at (570) 770-6395.