Life Enhancement Center

     Hospital Based Geriatric Psychiatric Unit--The Geropsychiatric Unit provides services to the geriatric patient who needs inpatient psychiatric care in a structured, therapeutic environment.  The services are provided under the supervision of psychiatrist, Olivia Iway, M.D.  The focus of the care is multidisciplinary in nature.

Patient diagnoses may include, but are not limited to:

• Psychoses

• Depression

• Anxiety Disorders

Reasons for hospitalization may be multiple and varied with each individual patient.  Factors that may influence consideration of a Geropsychiatric Unit include, but are not limited to:

• Harmful behavior to self or others

• Suicidal ideation

• Confusion/disorientation

• Unmanageability or severe behavioral problems

• Hallucinations, Paranoia

• Delusions

• Actual/somatoform illness

• Social isolation

• Medication evaluation adjustment

     Our goal is to provide a setting in which the patient receives an individually tailored treatment program, to return the patient to optimal levels of functioning and independence, to determine the most appropriate physician and outpatient support services.  The following services are provided in a therapeutic milieu:

• Psychiatric evaluation

• Psychological testing

• Group Therapy

• Family education

• Therapeutic Activities and recreational programs

• Social services

• Occupational Therapy

     Within the unit environment and activities, a therapeutic atmosphere of growth and change is fostered through therapeutic relationships between staff and patients, and patient to patient.  Staff interaction assures respect for the dignity of the individual in an honest, accepting, and caring atmosphere.

Planned activities by staff include:

• Activities of daily living

• Exercise

• Stress management

• Remotivation

• Socialization enhancement

• Patient education

• Family support

• Staff/client meetings

• Therapeutic groups

• Individual group therapy and music therapy

     Planned evening and weekend activity schedules will permit increased opportunity to allow visitor and family participation.  Morton County Hospital's Geropsychiatric Unit provides holistic care for the adult patient aged 65 or Medicare eligible. The philosophy of the unit is the use of the Medical Model so that intervention is provided accordingly.