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Families Challenged by Loved One's Psychiatric Needs
Families Storm-tossed Families Challenged by Loved Ones’ by Loved One’s Psychiatric Needs Psychiatric Needs
Find a Welcome Harbor at Find a Welcome Care Team at St. Joseph Medical Center’s St. Joseph Medical Center’s
Senior Behavioral Health Services Senior Behavioral Health Services
“When my father-in-law needed psychiatric care, all we could think of was the worst,” says Kimberli Chalmers, supervisor of senior care at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City. “That’s why I can empathize with the fears of families facing heart-wrenching decisions when their loved ones suffer from debilitating psychiatric illness. But after they take one look at what we offer, their whole outlook changes.” The Senior Behavioral Health Services (SBH) is one of the many ways St. Joseph Medical Center serves the senior population in the area. As the first hospital in Kansas City to launch a comprehensive Senior Care service line including a senior-friendly emergency room, senior-focused inpatient program, and an outpatient senior clinic, SBH ensures patients and their families receive the necessary support and services to offer stabilization and treatment for adults displaying serious behavioral changes.
“When my father-in-law needed “We offer help and hope to patients psychiatric care, all we could think of and their families who are dealing was the worst,” says Kim Chalmers, with the gravity of these life-altering supervisor of senior care at St. Joseph decisions,” says Helen Miller, director Medical Center in Kansas City. “That’s at SBH. “We want families to know why I can empathize with the fears what a beautiful place we have created of families facing heart-wrenching to provide care for their loved ones in decisions when their loved ones suffer a tranquil, peaceful space with safety from debilitating psychiatric illness. uttermost in mind.” But after they take one look at what Miller adds that the level of care we offer, their whole outlook changes.” provided at SBH is helping families
The Senior Behavioral Health Ser- receive the counseling and therapy vices (SBH) is one of the many ways necessary to understand how to offer St. Joseph Medical Center serves the their loved ones a better quality senior population in the area. As the of life and to communicate more first hospital in Kansas City to launch effectively with them. Along with the a comprehensive Senior Care ser- advanced improvements in psychiatric vice line including a senior-friendly medications, SBH is helping to reduce emergency room and senior-focused inpatient program, and an outpatient the stigma surrounding psychiatric illness. senior clinic, SBH ensures patients “We often say if someone were and their families receive the nec- diagnosed with any other illness, they essary support and services to offer would seek help for that,” Miller says. stabilization and treatment for adults “As a society, we must confront the displaying serious behavioral changes. wrongful notions that prevent people from seeking care.”
“We offer help and hope to patients and their families who are dealing with the gravity of these life-altering decisions,” says Helen Miller, director at SBH. “We want families to know what a beautiful place we have created to provide care for their loved ones in a tranquil, peaceful space with safety uttermost in mind.”
Miller adds that the level of care provided at SBH is helping families receive the counseling and therapy necessary to understand how to offer their loved ones a better quality of life and to communicate more effectively with them. Along with the advanced improvements in psychiatric medications, SBH is helping to reduce the stigma surrounding psychiatric illness.
“We often say if someone were diagnosed with any other illness, they would seek help for that,” Miller says. “As a society, we must confront the wrongful notions that
St. Joseph Medical Center is one of the only hospitals in the metro with a 5-star CMS rating. With exceptional providers and a dedicated and caring staff, Miller says she is proud of the comprehensive approach the team takes. “Our diverse team of specialists creates an individualized treatment plan specifically tailored to fit yours or
prevent people from seeking care.” a loved one’s unique needs to provide
St. Joseph Medical Center is one them with optimal care,” Miller says. of the only hospitals in the metro “We work tirelessly to ensure everyone with a 5-star CMS rating. With excep- leaves our program with the tools tional providers and a dedicated and necessary to meet life’s challenges.” caring staff, Miller says she is proud To learn more and see a virtual tour, of the comprehensive approach the please visit: https://www.stjosephkc. team takes. com/~/our-services/senior-behavioral-
creates an individualized treatment plan specifically tailored to fit yours or a loved one’s unique needs to provide them with optimal care,” Miller says. “We work tirelessly to ensure everyone leaves our program with the tools necessary to meet life’s challenges.”
Our Senior Care Team
• Behavioral health therapists • Gerontologists • Medical doctors • Psychiatrists and psychologists • Registered nurses • Social workers • Certified Therapeutic
Recreational Therapists • YOU – patient’s loved ones.
Our Approach
• Comprehensive psychiatrist evaluation • Individualized meetings with a
Psychiatrist • 24/7 nursing/ medical support • Individualized treatment planning • Individual and group therapy • Counseling services
Senior Behavioral Health Challenges We Treat
• Agitated/aggressive behaviors • Assaultive behavior or ideas that pose a threat to others • Extreme sadness and/or isolated behavior • Disorientation or hallucinations • Hearing voices and/or seeing things that are not there • Self-injurious behavior • Severe depression • Suicidal feelings
Make a Referral or for More Information Call 816-943-5800
24-hours a day to answer any questions. All information is completely confidential
1000 Carondelet Drive Kansas City, MO 64114 913-943-5800 | stjosephkc.com
