Specialized Treatment Approach for Seniors (65+)

Changes in memory, ability to think, mood, sleep patterns, and energy levels can be common parts of the aging process. But when senior adults experience symptoms that cause significant distress or lead to functional impairments, a mental health disorder may be to blame.

Mental and behavioral health challenges can impact individuals of all ages and genders. Older adults and senior citizens are not immune to the risk of behavioral health concerns.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 20% of adults age 55 and older experience at least one type of mental health disorder. Depression, anxiety disorders, and dementia are the most common mental and neurological challenges experienced by older adults. Millions of senior adults also struggle with substance use disorders and addiction.

Some senior adults have been living with a mental and behavioral health disorder for many years, even decades. Others may experience the onset of mental and behavioral health challenges later in life. In both cases, factors such as age, life experiences, quality of personal support, treatment history, and physical or medical challenges can affect how an older adult is impacted by a mental and behavioral health concern. These influences must also be taken into account when developing effective treatment plans for older adults.
Many facilities within Acadia Healthcare’s network offers comprehensive, personalized mental and behavioral health services for senior adults. Depending on the facility, services for senior adults may include age-appropriate therapeutic activities, specialized treatment tracks, or dedicated programs.

Some facilities accept individuals age 55 and older into programming for senior adults. Other facilities limit these programs to adults ages 65 and older. Still others have flexible age ranges, accepting individuals into either adult or senior adult programs based on which treatment environment is best for them.

At facilities within the Acadia network, personalized treatment is a hallmark of care for individuals of all ages. For senior adults, personalized, age-appropriate treatment for mental and behavioral health disorders can lead to considerable improvements in a person’s daily quality of life.

Factors such as age, medical history, life experiences, previous treatment, and personal support can have a significant influence on the nature and severity of the symptoms that a senior adult is experiencing. Many senior adults have experienced grief and loss. Retirement, relocation, and changes in financial or social status can also have a considerable impact on mental and behavioral health. It’s vital to incorporate these and other relevant factors into the senior adult’s personalized treatment plan. Acadia facilities that offer focused treatment for senior adults are prepared to identify and address all issues that may have contributed to or exacerbated a senior adult’s mental and behavioral health struggles.

Depending on the results of a thorough admissions assessment, effective personalized treatment for older adults may include an array of customized interventions, such as detoxification, medication management services, basic medical support, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, experiential therapies, recreational therapy, occupational therapy, education sessions, 12-Step education and support, alternative recovery models, assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), and other services as needed.

In addition to conducting a thorough assessment and developing a personalized plan, it’s also essential to determine which level or levels of care are right for senior adults who have been struggling with mental and behavioral health challenges. The Acadia network offers the following options:

Inpatient treatment: Short-term treatment (usually 5-7 days), featuring intensive services for older adults who are experiencing a mental and behavioral health crises, with the goal of helping them achieve stabilization.

Residential treatment: A longer length of stay (can be weeks or months), featuring round-the-clock care and a wide range of therapeutic interventions to delay or reverse the progression of symptoms.

Partial hospitalization program (PHP): Full days of structured treatment, typically Mondays to Fridays, with participants returning home or to an alternative residence in the evenings and on weekends.

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP): Shorter daily treatment schedules, usually emphasizing group therapy, with options to attend two to four days of treatment per week.

Traditional outpatient services: Individual, group, or family sessions, scheduled at the frequency that’s best for the senior adult.

To learn more about the comprehensive, personalized mental and behavioral health treatment for senior adults, contact a local Acadia facility today. Personnel at all treatment facilities in the Acadia network will be happy to provide you with the answers that you need so you can make the most informed decisions for yourself or on behalf of a senior adult in your family.