Older Adult Services

Many elderly people living in nursing homes and in our communities have mental illnesses. Older Adult therapists at Southwestern work with community organizations and care providers who serve the elderly to understand the mental health needs of the elderly. The following services are provided by Southwestern:

• Outpatient Therapy: Provide outpatient therapy and assess for needs that are unique to the geriatric population.

• Pre-Admission Screening Resident Review (PASRR) Level II Evaluations: The intent of the Level II evaluation is to ensure individuals with a serious mental illness who are in need of nursing facililty care be admitted and to determine whether individuals with a serious mental illness require specialized mental health services. The Level II evaluation includes the individual's psychotropic medications, support systems, past psychiatric history, current mental status, and mental health recommendations. 

• Individual Consultations: Individual consultations are available so that older adults and their families can seek assistance from a professional therapist regarding an older adult's future plans and mental health needs. 

Consultations are especially helpful to families when changes occur that require rethinking the future: 

• Retirement
• Relocation
• Losses such as the death of a spouse or an impending divorce
• Catastrophic illness
• Cognitive decline, such as dementia

During the consultation session with the older adult and/or family members, the following issues may be discussed:

• The impact of the problem on the future of the older adult
• Options for planning an acceptable future for the older adult
• The effect of such plans on the family relationship
• The resources available within the family and the community for the older adult

Consultations are provided by a therapist.