Johnson Memorial Hospital recently opened a new geriatric behavioral health center to help serve the growing senior population.
The Lillian “Dolly” Santilli Geriatric Wellness Pavilion provides behavioral health services such as nursing, psychiatric evaluation and treatment, and family education.
Other clinical programming, such as occupational and music therapy, also will be available.
“These services are designed to improve the quality of life for our geriatric patients, offering the support they need to return to their homes and families,” Dr. Robert Roose, chief administrative officer for Johnson Memorial Hospital and Mercy Medical Center, said.
The 15-bed unit includes private and semiprivate rooms to help provide a “homelike” environment for patients.
“We are committed to meeting the needs of the local community, even as those needs change,” Roose said.
“Based on expected market changes in the communities served by Johnson that project a 16 percent increase in the 65-plus age group over the next five years, we have focused investments to address the needs of this population,” Roose said.
The new geriatric unit complements the already existing adult psychiatric unit.
“With a significant increase in the number of older adults anticipated in our service area in the coming years, the need for this new unit is undeniable,” Edna Rodriguez, director of behavioral health at Johnson Memorial, said. “The new unit will not only serve this vulnerable patient population, it will also provide respite for their loved ones who want the best possible care for their seniors.”
Roose said that if left untreated, behavioral health disorders in seniors can lead to diminished functioning and substance abuse.
“Clearly, intervention services will make a tremendous difference for these patients,” he said.
While the hospital is making a shift toward helping the senior population, Roose said, the hospital will still remain committed to serving all patients in its community.
Treatment in the emergency department, as well as medical, surgical, imaging, and other clinical needs, will still be available.
“However, based on the expected increase in this patient population, we are adding services that are specifically designed to support geriatric patients, and by extension, their families,” Roose said.
This year, Johnson Memorial partnered with Athena Healthcare Systems to help carry out expansion plans that would provide senior care and housing, as well as assisted living on the hospital’s campus.
Mary Orr, communications and media specialist for Trinity Health, said that though the center is not part of Athena’s expansion plan, it complements services offered by the Athena nursing facility on the hospital campus.
Matthew covers Coventry and Tolland for the Journal Inquirer.
