Those associated with health care are quite familiar with the statistics regarding the current shifts in our country’’s
demographics. In the past 30 years, for example, the number of people over 55 has doubled, and that number will double again as the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age.
As a result, that’’s led to a shift in the way health care is
delivered. More and more, facilities are looking closely at their
current programs to see what can be modified to meet the changing needs of the communities being served. And that’’s certainly the case with St. Joseph Hospital’’s Senior Adult Mental Health Unit (SAMHU), an 18-bed geriatric-psychiatric unit providing acute inpatient treatment for ages 55 and older.
“There’’s been a real change in how we approach things,” said Lisa Ouellette, who is the marketing manager for SAMHU, which is located in Nashua, NH. “The changes within our population have made that necessary.”
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more
than seven out of 10 people with Alzheimer’’s live at home, where almost 75 percent of their care is provided by relatives and friends. So SAMHU has made it a priority to feature programs that not only cater to patients suffering from Alzheimer’’s disease, but their caregivers as well.
SAMHU created the Alzheimer’’s and Dementia Support group, which is designed for people providing for family members suffering from Alzheimer’’s or other forms of dementia. This group meets each month to provide support, education, and resources. Caregivers have the opportunity to ask questions, receive information, and gain a sense of support and community from others who are experiencing similar challenges.
There’’s also the Edward Karg Day Away Program for Alzheimer patient care. This program is run in conjunction with The Parish Nurse Center for Wellness at Milette Manor in Nashua. How it works is rather simple: Caregivers drop off their loved one for up to half the day, allowing the caregiver much-needed respite or the opportunity to do activities they normally couldn”t while providing care. During their stay, the Alzheimer’’s patients enjoy a meal, play games, participate in arts and crafts, etc.
Alzheimer’’s disease can devastate a family both emotionally and financially. According to Ouellette, the goal of these programs is to avoid that outcome and keep patients at home as long as possible.
“Families want to keep their loved one within their care, but
often they don”t have the ability to do so,” Ouellette said. “With
these programs, we want to relieve some of the anxiety for the
caregiver. Sometimes it’’s just a matter of the caregiver needing a
chance to talk about their experiences and emotions. Other times it’’s a matter of providing a break, which is what our day away program is all about.”
Ouellette said there’’s plans to enhance the amount of
educational informational SAMHU provides to the greater Nashua community, as well as the number of screenings and memory evaluation clinics it conducts. With the elder population growing every year, the goal is to have family members and friends better prepared to take note of the first symptoms of Alzheimer’’s in a loved one.
And while the programs change as a result of shifting
demographics, SAMHU’’s goal never will.
“It’’s all about addressing the needs of our patients and
their families,” Ouellette said. “And while those needs may vary from case to case, we never stop at trying to fulfill them.”
The second largest facility in New Hampshire, SAMHU is led by Michael McGee, MD, a board certified psychiatrist. A dedicated team of nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, and staff work together to meet the individual needs of patients and their caregivers. For more information, call (603) 598-3334.
