Specialized Care for Seniors

Aging can be a confusing and frustrating process for adults, especially when it’s complicated by mental and physiological issues like grief, depression, dementia and more. The Older Adult Program at Garland Behavioral Hospital is designed to provide help to patients age 65 and older during this period. The goal of this program is to help older adults regain the highest level of daily functioning and independence. 

Garland’s Medical Director is board-certified in Geriatric Medicine, providing extensive oversight to the senior care staff at the hospital. The team of social workers, nurses and therapists are trained to address the specific needs of seniors, including those suffering from mental issues like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and cognitive changes. They’re also trained to address the subtleties of senior patients suffering from “failure to thrive,” a nonspecific manifestation of underlying physical, mental, or psychosocial conditions which can be accompanied by weight loss, decreased appetite, physical inactivity and depression. Our staff is now certified in Dementia Care through the Crisis Prevention Institute to provide evidence-based care for our older patients.

In addition to our trained, highly-attuned staff, our Older Adult Program offers two separate Geriatric Specialized Care Units tailored to the unique needs of older patients. The units, Monarch and Magnolia, feature ADA-compliant private rooms, and PsychSafe medical beds are available on both units for extra comfort and security. Both units have tools and equipment designed for older patients, such as walk-in showers, a specialty tub and sensory modulation therapy. Read more about each unit’s specifics below.

MONARCH PROGRAM UNIT

Our Monarch Program is designed to treat acute mental health and substance abuse disorders in older adults. Personalized treatment is provided utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, including active participation in group therapy, individual therapy and activity therapy.

Benefits of the program include:

• Specialized therapeutic interventions focused on life stage-specific needs
• Empathic and engaging group therapy focused on optimizing treatment outcomes for active seniors
• Supplemental self-directed therapeutic interventions to promote emotional stability
• Peer support of others facing similar issues
• Secured 14-bed unit with private rooms
• PsychSafe medical beds for comfort & safety
• Patient and family-sensitive approach to treatment programs and discharge planning

MAGNOLIA PROGRAM UNIT

Our Magnolia Program is designed to treat acute mental health and substance abuse disorders in older adults. This program caters to patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other types of cognitive impairment as well as chronic medical conditions requiring increased staff assistance.

Benefits of the program include:

• Brief therapeutic interventions using sensory activities and evidenced-based approaches
• Staff trained to assist with the unique needs of Magnolia program participants
• PsychSafe medical beds for comfort & safety
• Secured 12-bed unit, private rooms available
• Environment esthetic incorporates restful colors with a calming effect
• Family-sensitive approach to treatment programs and discharge planning