Geriatric Behavioral Health Unit

A Better Tomorrow

Older adults face tough challenges like loss of independence; grief over a spouse’s death; and declining ability to manage one’s daily needs and one’s home. These challenges are all the more difficult when the older adult also is dealing with medical conditions, repeated hospitalizations or Emergency Room (ER) visits.

The older adults’ unique challenges require a specialized approach to mental health treatment. To that end, on Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, Southwest General opened the new 18-bed Geriatric Behavioral Health Unit designed to provide short-term inpatient care for patients 65 and older suffering from depression and other mood disorders, changes in behavior, suicidal preoccupation and major decline in functioning. The goal is to assess the combined medical/behavioral/environmental factors that contribute to each patient’s problems in aging and then come up with an intervention plan, both during and after the hospital stay.

Establishing a calm, soothing environment that’s safe and secure are top priorities for Louis Klein, MD, a geriatric psychiatrist who serves as the unit’s medical director, and his team. The secured unit is decorated in soft, earthy tones with high ceilings and plenty of light. The open floor plan allows line-of-sight visibility from the central nursing station to all patient rooms. Within such a peaceful setting, patients participate in group and individual sessions geared to each person’s level of functioning. Group activities like reminiscence circles, music, exercise, art therapy—and even Wii video games—provide opportunities for beneficial socialization every day while on the unit.

Overseeing care and daily programming is a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, including nurses, patient care assistants, social workers, recreational therapists as well as, when indicated, physical therapists, occupational therapists and dietitians. The average length of stay on the unit is 12 days, but each patient’s needs are considered in the discharge planning process. The objective of the entire treatment team is that by the time a patient is discharged, he/she and the family feel as though a problem situation has been addressed and level of independence improved as much as possible. To help continue the treatment, outpatient follow-up is part of the discharge planning process.

For more information about the new Geriatric Behavioral Health Unit, call 440-816-8200, 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m., daily.

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Geriatric Behavioral Health Unit

Oakview Behavioral Health Center