Lincoln Medical Center's Behavioral Health Services has been providing Geropsychiatric Services on an outpatient basis since 1997. We have, however identified that there is a need for an inpatient Geropsychiatry Unit for our community and have begun construction of a 10 bed inpatient unit to be located on the Donalson campus. This service will begin in June of 2008. Providing services in both inpatient and outpatient settings, Lincoln Medical Center's Behavioral Health Services will provide the most comprehensive psychiatric program for senior adults offered in our area.
Inpatient Geropsychiatric treatment is a specialized area of medicine that focuses on the unique physical and emotional needs of the 55 and older senior adult. There are unique issues of loss and adjustments in lifestyle, complicated by concurrent medical issues, which are not experienced by any other age group. |
The Geropsychiatric Center of Lincoln County Health System will provide a caring, supportive environment where each patient participates in a treatment program individually designed to meet his or her needs.
Patients eligible for Inpatient Services usually experience several of the following symptoms:
· Attempts or threats of suicide
 · Loss of interest in regular activities
· Changes in sleeping patterns
· Confusion, disorientation, memory changes
· Inability to care for self or home
· Abrupt changes in behavior
· Isolation and withdrawal from friends and family
· Inability to concentrate, sudden decrease in intellectual functioning
· Expresses feelings of helplessness and/or hopelessness
· Seeing or hearing things that no one else sees or hears
· Impaired understanding of reality
· Abuse of drugs, medications or alcohol
· Difficulty with impulse control
· Decrease in energy level
· Increased or decreased appetite
· Uncharacteristic anger, irritability or agitation
· Extended and extreme grief over a loss
Through a structured treatment plan of individual counseling, group therapy, medication management, activities, family education, and support, patients will be given the opportunity to improve their social, physical, and emotional functioning. |