Geropsychiatric Program

Geropsychiatric Program

Geriatric Neurobehavioral Program

St. Luke's Warren Hospital's Geriatric Neurobehavioral Program is a secure and intimate setting, for ages 65 and older, created to address the unique needs of older adults. We provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary, professional treatment exclusively to elders in a safe and comfortable environment. We are distinguished by a multidisciplinary approach and a newly designed unit to facilitate restoration of geriatric patient's ability to function and improve behavior to achieve to the baseline and improve quality of life. We provide a careful assessment of each patient's readiness to return to stable and safe and severe depression or significant behavioral disturbance in a demented patient accompanied by anxiety, paranoia, aggression and psychosis. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms improve functioning whenever possible and maximize an elder person's quality of life.

Symptoms That May Need Evaluation

Changes in behavior, mood, or routine may be an indicator that a psychiatric condition is present. Symptoms may interfere with care at home or in a long-term setting.Some (but not all) of the symptoms that we treat:

• Dementia with Behavioral Disturbances: Striking out, yelling, agitation, sexual inappropriateness, refusal of care and/or medications
• Sleep disturbances
• Eating/drinking issue
• Inability to cooperate with needed care such as physical therapy
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Unrealistic fears, paranoid thinking
• Seeing hearing or believing things that are not real, delusions

Physical illnesses, medications (including those prescribed for non psychiatric medical problems) and the psychological and social stressors of aging can complicate diagnosis and treatment of these symptoms. We address these issues and more on our unit. Our multidisciplinary approach includes psychiatric assessment, neuropsychological and psychological evaluations, pharmacist consultation, internal medicine and neurological consultations, and psychosocial assessments.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concern. We are more than happy to help alleviate any apprehensions.

How to Address the Change

Referrals can be made by any long term care facility, assisted living facility and neighboring hospital. Family members may also have their loved one assessed by our Crisis Clinician by visiting our Emergency Department.

Any questions regarding admission criteria, please contact St. Luke's Warren Campus' Psychiatric Clinical Intake Coordinator at 908-859-6782.

Treatment Plans

Making the decision to address a loved one’s change in mental status can be an extremely difficult and emotionally trying choice. Warren Hospital is here to help. We offer a multitude of services, including but not limited to:

• Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment
• Medical Evaluation and Management
• Medication Management
• Recreation Therapy
• Physical and Occupational Therapy
• Patient and Family Education
• Nutrition Consultation and Education
• Neurology Consultation
• Pharmacy Consultation
• Medical and Surgical Subspecialty Consultation
• Neuropsychology Consultation
• Individual and Group Therapy
• Pet Therapy
• Physical Medicine Consultation
• Discharge/Aftercare Planning

All of our staff have been trained in the behavioral management of dementia and are supervised by a licensed Neuropsychologist. Assessments are used to determine degree of impairment and to individualize behavior modification plans that are created for each client. Staff will meet as a team to discuss all reasons for admission and for discharge plans. Families and sending facilities are encouraged to participate in planning and are welcome at treatment team. Families are also encouraged to meet with our social work staff for supportive therapy.

All of our geriatric patients are seen by the hospital's Geriatric Assessment (GAT) team.

Discharge/Aftercare

To plan an appropriate discharge for our geriatric patients we as a team address a wide range of concerns. Safety, medical restrictions, financial, psychiatric complexity, and potential placement are a few of the considerations. Discharge planning starts at admission. The BHU is an acute program and stays on our unit are generally short term. Family and facility are imperative to a successful discharge to a comfortable and appropriate setting.