Teletherapy Services Provide At-Home Care for Seniors Experiencing Depression, Anxiety or Loneliness
May 08, 2020
CARROLLTON, Mo. – Carroll County Memorial Hospital Senior Life Solutions, an intensive outpatient group therapy program for seniors, successfully made the transition to providing services remotely due to COVID-19 safety precautions. Senior Life Solutions began offering teletherapy to its patients on April 13, 2020, allowing them to receive the care they need while remaining safe and secure at home.
Teletherapy services are provided via telephone or computer by a licensed clinical social worker. After an initial assessment, Senior Life Solutions individualizes a care plan for each patient, where they meet up to three times per week in an encouraging, supportive setting. All Senior Life Solutions services are confidential and HIPAA compliant.
Program Director Mindie Stovall, RN, said “Our new teletherapy services allow our patients to continue to reap the benefits of group and individual therapy, but from the safety of their homes. During a group session, we all dial in on the phone or log in from a computer at the same time, and each patient has the opportunity to form a bond and sometimes even friendship with other members in the group who are experiencing similar life changes.”
The program is managed by a national behavioral healthcare management company, Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC), and was able to move so quickly to a remote environment, as a result of PMC’s previous investment in telehealth services. Senior Life Solutions has incorporated telehealth into its care model for more than a decade.
Other Senior Life Solutions staff includes a board-certified psychiatrist, licensed social workers and a registered nurse, dedicated to the emotional well-being of the seniors in the community. Individuals may benefit from the program if they are experiencing symptoms of age-related depression or anxiety, or are dealing with difficult life transitions, a recent health diagnosis or the loss of a loved one.
Stovall added, “It is wonderful being part of a program that improves the quality of life for such a vulnerable population in our community. Emotional health services are needed more than ever during these difficult times.”
Referrals to the program can be made by anyone, including a patient’s physician, family member, self-referral or another healthcare professional. For more information, call (660)542-1695 Ext. 3208.
Carroll County Memorial Hospital Senior Life Solutions is managed in partnership by Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC), a leading behavioral healthcare management company. Focused on addressing the needs of rural and underserved communities, PMC manages inpatient behavioral health units, intensive outpatient programs and telehealth services in more than 25 states. The company's services provide evaluation and treatment for patients suffering from depression, anxiety, mood disorders, memory problems, post-traumatic stress disorder and other behavioral health problems. For more information, visit www.psychmc.com/seniorlifesolutions.
For more information about the services at Carroll County Memorial Hospital, visit our website http://www.carrollcountyhospital.org or call 660-542-1695.
Carroll County Memorial Hospital (CCMH), the area’s premier healthcare resource, is a 25-bed Critical Access facility serving Carrollton and the surrounding communities. It offers 24-hour emergency care, specialized services such as advanced diagnostics, post-acute skilled care (swing bed) and comprehensive family care. CCMH is dedicated to the Health and Well Being of All We Serve. For more information, visit carrollcountyhospital.org.