Treatment on the Geriatric Neuropsychiatry Unit
When your loved one is staying on the Geriatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, they will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of therapeutic programming. Our offerings are designed to address both mental and physical health issues; we work to help individuals get through their current crisis and return to a less-intensive level of care. We maintain a strong focus on the whole individual, and do our best to address all of their health concerns during their stay with us.
We focus on helping individuals maintain their cognitive and physical skills while they are in our care, and rehabilitation therapists are an integral part of the treatment team. Treatment also has a strong focus on medication management; a psychopharmacologist participates in care planning for our patients.
We utilize the Senior Helpers’ Senior Gems approach in providing care. Treatment is not a one-size-fits-all approach, especially for individuals in different stages of dementia. All of our team members are trained in the Gems Stages, and we see excellent outcomes by using this approach to treatment. Changing the way in which we interact with those with dementia is key to providing effective and compassionate care.
During their stay, individuals can expect to receive:
- Daily medication management and meetings with a psychiatrist
- Music therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Recreational therapy
- A physical therapy assessment
In addition to experiencing a mental illness, many of those we care for also are experiencing a physical illness. We have a strong relationship with the experts at the neighboring Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC); a general practitioner visits the unit frequently to check in on any patients that need physical care. We also have the capability to refer an individual to a medical hospital if they need more intensive medical care.
Beyond caring for mental and physical health, we ensure that any religious needs an individual has are met; we find that many people in our care crave a spiritual connection. We have a dedicated spiritual services coordinator on the team who visits the unit multiple times per week, and can arrange visits from spiritual and religious leaders.
Length of Stay
The average length of stay on our unit is 14 to 21 days; some individuals need less time to stabilize and return home, and some may need more time. Each course of treatment is individualized to the patient so we can ensure they are receiving exactly the kind of care that they need to stabilize.