|
|
Who
We Are
|
|
CORPORATE
ADDRESS: |
 |
The Program l Treatment Plan l Discharge l Signs and Symptoms
The
Program
The Heritage Program for Senior Adults provides
intensive and comprehensive mental health care to individuals
55 years of age and older. The
Program is a department of the acute care hospital (outpatient program operates Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.)
The Program is staffed with a
multi-disciplinary team of health care professionals directed by a
psychiatrist. The
psychiatrist provides a thorough evaluation of the client’s treatment
needs, prescribes and monitors medications, and supervises treatment. The psychiatrist works in close collaboration with primary
care physicians.
The full time, on-site team consists of
master’s level therapists/social workers, registered nurses, and
mental health technicians. The
team carries out the psychiatrist’s plan of care and provide a
variety of group, family, and individual therapies individualized
to the needs of the client.
As an outpatient program, Heritage focuses on
maintaining and improving the client’s independent living skills and
quality of life. By working
in a community-based outpatient setting, the program can offer a highly
individualized plan for each individual client.
Depending on the needs of the client and the severity of
symptoms, the plan can vary from a few services to daily program
attendance. Attendance and
intensity of services changes with the improvement of the
client’s condition, monitored by regular treatment plan reviews by the
doctor and team.
The
Treatment Plan:
After careful evaluation by the psychiatrist
and treatment team, an individualized plan of care is developed with
participation and input from the client and family.
Often, a combination of medication and psychotherapy is
prescribed, which is recognized as the most effective approach to full
recovery. The family is
involved in the plan of care from assessment onwards, as the family is
often a critical part of the social support system of the client.
The client and family are educated about the illness and
prescribed medications.
Verbal therapies are directed at educating the
client about the nature of the illness, reducing the sense of stigma
which often accompanies mental health problems, and improving the coping
skills of the client. Social
withdrawal and isolation are frequently part of the problem, and group
based therapies can alleviate the sense that the client is “all
alone” in their suffering.
The Program is individualized but time limited. A central part of the discharge plan is to engage the client in community-based activities which keep the individual involved in meaningful and pleasurable activities which can help prevent the return of symptoms. As the client recovers, the frequency of care is reduced and discharge strategy is implemented to sustain the improvements gained in the program. Some clients remain in a limited involvement program to maintain improvements, while others may be seen in periodic follow up visits with the doctor for medication management.
Signs
and symptoms of mental distress in the elderly:
Mental health disorders are often under recognized and under
treated, with serious consequences to the individual and family.
These disorders often co-exist with a variety of medical
conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and arthritis.
Quality of life is drastically diminished by mental health
disorders, and the disorders can greatly increase risk of other medical
illnesses or interfere with full recovery from these illnesses.
Following are some common signs of mental distress in the
elderly:
|
|
Depression |
 |
Weight Loss/Gain/Appetite Disturbance |
|
Anxiety |
|
Agitation |
|
Crying spells |
|
Suicidal Thoughts/Plans/Actions |
|
Unresolved Grief |
|
Cognitive Changes |
|
Anger/Irritability |
|
Social Withdrawal/Isolation |
|
Paranoia/Delusions |
|
Loss of pleasure in ordinary activities |
|
Frequent doctor visits or medical complaints without clear medical findings |