Senior Behavioral Health Services

Specialized mental health treatment in a setting exclusively for seniors.

The goal of treatment on the Senior Behavioral Health unit is to provide a safe and therapeutic treatment environment for older adults (55 & over) who are experiencing difficulty functioning and to return them to the most appropriate level of care in the community. The average length of stay in this program is 9-12 days, however it varies from person to person based on their response to treatment.   

We utilize a multidisciplinary Treatment Team approach to treatment; the Treatment Team includes a psychiatrist, a family practice physician and ARNP, Case Managers, Nurses, Activity Specialists, CNA’s and as needed, Physical Therapists, Respiratory Therapists, Speech Therapists and Dieticians who work together assessing the patient and formulating a treatment plan. The patient and their family are also included in the treatment planning process.

For more information on Valley General Hospital’s Senior Behavioral Health Unit, please call 390-794-1443.

General Admission Criteria

• Age 55 or older
• Confirmed or suspected psychiatric diagnosis
• Acute mental health crisis
• Medicare, commercial insurance or a private pay source
• Managed care insurance considered on a case by case basis

Indications of Potential Mental Health Problems

Emotional Instability

• Suicide thoughts, attempts or gestures
• Loss of interest in preferred activities
• Feeling helpless, useless and/or hopeless
• Extreme difficulty accepting a loss
• Excessively happy, energetic and/or talkative
• Agitation or anxiety
• Frequent mood swings
• Unusual or severe pessimism

Physical Changes

• Changes in appetite and/or weight
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Lack of adequate personal hygiene
• Abuse of medications/substance abuse
• Increased or unexplained physical complaints

Changes in Personal Relationships

• Social withdrawal and isolation
• Refusal to accept medical help
• Depressed mood and/or crying spells
• Displayed anger and/or hostility
• Paranoia

Changes in Ability to Reason

• Inability to concentrate
• Confusion, disorientation, forgetfulness
• Changes in memory
• Seeing or hearing things that are not present
• Difficulty discerning reality from unreality

Unhealthy Social Situations

• A possible victim of abuse, neglect or exploitation
• Difficulty accessing daily needs
• Home unkempt or in disrepair

Financial Difficulties

• Confusion about managing money
• Spending sprees

To make a referral or for more information, please call 360-794-1443, 24 hours a day.