July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Psych ward offers help to elderly (9/28/05)
Hospital offering new unit for senior citizens
By By Rachelle Haughn-
Local elderly residents who suffer from dementia, Alzheimer’s, severe depression and other mental or emotional problems will soon have a place to get help close to home.
LifeBridge Senior Behavioral Health Unit, a new ward at Jay County Hospital, will begin accepting patients on Monday, Oct. 3.
An open house for the public will be held Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m.
The psychiatric unit for people age 55 and older was built at the rear of the hospital — the former site of the Specialty Referral Clinic. The clinic was moved to the Vormohr Medical Center.
The beds are covered with quilts, the rooms are equipped with night stands and walk-in showers, and there is even a kitchen for those guests who get the urge to bake.
“The goal is to make it feel as close to home as possible,” program director and unit manager Amy Wendel said.
The patients are encouraged to stay in their rooms as little as possible and walk around as much as they can. They also can wear their own clothing day and night.
The unit’s activity therapist helps patients reclaim their independence or remember how to do everyday tasks by giving them the opportunity to do their own laundry and bake. They also can wash dishes and help put food items in the refrigerator.
“As they are becoming more stable with their behavioral health issues ... they can do things they haven’t done for a while,” Wendel said.
Not every elderly person with a mental health problem can be admitted to the ward. To be admitted, the patient must have had some sort of issue or incident related to the problem.
For example, if someone lives in a nursing home and frequently interrupts daily activities or interacts negatively with others, this could be a reason for admission to the ward.
Also, someone who lives at home alone and no longer eats, takes medications as prescribed or bathes could qualify for admission.
Patients can be referred by a physician, a nursing home or by a family member.
They are charged one lump sum, and their care can be paid for through Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance. JCH chief financial officer Don Michael said a stay of 12 days would cost about $10,100.
The 10-bed unit’s social worker plans to hold reminiscing and cognitive processing groups, Wendel said. Several art reproductions by artists such as Norman Rockwell will be hung on the walls to help patients recall memories from the past.
“Sometimes they have a hard time with short-term memory. Sometimes if you get the long-term memory going it helps the short-term,” Wendel said.
The ward also has a quiet activity room for reminiscing. A large television in the room will play old movies on Saturday nights to help jog patients’ memories. The unit has a collection of compact discs with music from the 1940s and 1950s and gospel tunes for the patients to listen to.
Wendel estimates the average age for patients will be between 75 and 85.
Besides tending to patients’ memory losses, the unit also will offer gentle exercise classes, with activities such as stretching and body mechanics.
Patients can take nutrition courses and get occupational and speech therapy. Family members also can benefit from family therapy groups when they come to visit.
At meal times, patients and staff are encouraged to eat together in the common dining room.
Although the atmosphere in the ward is low key and patients seem to have a lot of freedom, Wendel said steps have been taken to ensure the patients’ safety.
“Everything in the room is designed to prevent harm or risk to themselves or others,” Wendel said.
Also, all the doors leading from the ward are locked. Employees have to use swipe cards to get in or out.
Wendel estimated the average length of stay will be 10 to 12 days. In order for a patient to be released, there has to be some sort of goal met or a change in the patient’s behavior.
“We definitely have to see a positive response in the patient before they can be discharged, and the behavior that caused the admission must be resolved,” Wendel said.
After being released, a patient will go to a nursing home, an adult day care or home.
“The goal of the program is to help the patient live as independently as possible,” Wendel said. “We can’t cure dementia, depression or Alzheimer’s disease, but we can give them a more comfortable lifestyle.”
JCH chief executive officer Joe Johnston said he is looking forward to the ward opening.
“I think it’s going to serve an unmet need.”[[In-content Ad]]
LifeBridge Senior Behavioral Health Unit, a new ward at Jay County Hospital, will begin accepting patients on Monday, Oct. 3.
An open house for the public will be held Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m.
The psychiatric unit for people age 55 and older was built at the rear of the hospital — the former site of the Specialty Referral Clinic. The clinic was moved to the Vormohr Medical Center.
The beds are covered with quilts, the rooms are equipped with night stands and walk-in showers, and there is even a kitchen for those guests who get the urge to bake.
“The goal is to make it feel as close to home as possible,” program director and unit manager Amy Wendel said.
The patients are encouraged to stay in their rooms as little as possible and walk around as much as they can. They also can wear their own clothing day and night.
The unit’s activity therapist helps patients reclaim their independence or remember how to do everyday tasks by giving them the opportunity to do their own laundry and bake. They also can wash dishes and help put food items in the refrigerator.
“As they are becoming more stable with their behavioral health issues ... they can do things they haven’t done for a while,” Wendel said.
Not every elderly person with a mental health problem can be admitted to the ward. To be admitted, the patient must have had some sort of issue or incident related to the problem.
For example, if someone lives in a nursing home and frequently interrupts daily activities or interacts negatively with others, this could be a reason for admission to the ward.
Also, someone who lives at home alone and no longer eats, takes medications as prescribed or bathes could qualify for admission.
Patients can be referred by a physician, a nursing home or by a family member.
They are charged one lump sum, and their care can be paid for through Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance. JCH chief financial officer Don Michael said a stay of 12 days would cost about $10,100.
The 10-bed unit’s social worker plans to hold reminiscing and cognitive processing groups, Wendel said. Several art reproductions by artists such as Norman Rockwell will be hung on the walls to help patients recall memories from the past.
“Sometimes they have a hard time with short-term memory. Sometimes if you get the long-term memory going it helps the short-term,” Wendel said.
The ward also has a quiet activity room for reminiscing. A large television in the room will play old movies on Saturday nights to help jog patients’ memories. The unit has a collection of compact discs with music from the 1940s and 1950s and gospel tunes for the patients to listen to.
Wendel estimates the average age for patients will be between 75 and 85.
Besides tending to patients’ memory losses, the unit also will offer gentle exercise classes, with activities such as stretching and body mechanics.
Patients can take nutrition courses and get occupational and speech therapy. Family members also can benefit from family therapy groups when they come to visit.
At meal times, patients and staff are encouraged to eat together in the common dining room.
Although the atmosphere in the ward is low key and patients seem to have a lot of freedom, Wendel said steps have been taken to ensure the patients’ safety.
“Everything in the room is designed to prevent harm or risk to themselves or others,” Wendel said.
Also, all the doors leading from the ward are locked. Employees have to use swipe cards to get in or out.
Wendel estimated the average length of stay will be 10 to 12 days. In order for a patient to be released, there has to be some sort of goal met or a change in the patient’s behavior.
“We definitely have to see a positive response in the patient before they can be discharged, and the behavior that caused the admission must be resolved,” Wendel said.
After being released, a patient will go to a nursing home, an adult day care or home.
“The goal of the program is to help the patient live as independently as possible,” Wendel said. “We can’t cure dementia, depression or Alzheimer’s disease, but we can give them a more comfortable lifestyle.”
JCH chief executive officer Joe Johnston said he is looking forward to the ward opening.
“I think it’s going to serve an unmet need.”[[In-content Ad]]
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