Senior Behavioral Health Services

Interdisciplinary Team Approach

Because there are numerous factors that can affect a person’s mental health, a multidisciplinary team of professionals is critical to achieve patients’ goals. Treatment is provided by highly qualified and trained experts with extensive backgrounds in:

• Psychiatry
• Social work
• Nursing
• Recreation therapy
• Hospital medicine

Services

The senior behavioral health unit at our medical center offers the following services:

• Mobile Psychiatric Evaluation Services
• Psychiatric assessment and treatment
• Recreational therapy assessment and treatment
• Management of medical conditions
• 24-hour clinical nursing team
• Crisis stabilization 24 hours / 7 days a week
• Specialized individual, family, and group therapy
• Education for patients and families on diagnosis, treatment options, and medications
• Medication management
• Dietary and nutrition consultation
• Case management with discharge planning and financial counseling

Mental Health Issues We Treat

The highly qualified staff at our facility is trained to diagnose and treat a variety of mental health issues. Our goal is to help patients attain an optimal level of functionality to improve the quality of their lives in a safe, secure environment.

We can help seniors who are showing the following symptoms:

• Anxiety or depression
• Suicidal or homicidal thoughts and behaviors
• Difficulty sleeping
• Significant changes in appetite or energy levels
• Overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt
• Feelings of restlessness, panic, or impending doom
• Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
• Psychosis
• Paranoia
• Inability to accept or adjust to loss
• Seeing, smelling, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• Making unrealistic accusations
• Combative or violent behavior
• Impaired judgement
• Phobias, especially if they hinder daily life
• Severe mood swings or a mood disorder

Treatment Plans

Each patient we see will receive an individual assessment and treatment plan in accordance with their specific mental and behavioral needs. We offer both individual and group therapy, planned activities, as well as family support provided by our skilled behavioral experts. Our goal is to create an effective plan that will lead each patient on the road to recovery. We will also make a discharge plan in order to facilitate a healthy mind and body lifestyle at home.

Our Admission Process

At Encino Hospital Medical Center, we accept patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The services we provide are covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and commercial payers. Our senior behavioral health unit accepts referrals from potential patients, friends or family members, primary care physicians, hospitals, clinics, social service agencies, the clergy, nursing home facilities, assisted living facilities, and long-term care facilities.

Prior to admission, our team will perform a free, confidential comprehensive screening. Screenings are designed to assess the mental stability of the patient to determine whether or not each patient meets our unit’s criteria for admission. Because our program is hospital-based, we are able to accept patients suffering from psychiatric issues and chronic medical conditions.