Geriatric Behavioral Health Services
People over 55 experience the same mental health issues as younger adults. However, this age group also can experience geriatric behavioral health challenges unique to growing older, such as the loss of independence, the death of a spouse or lifelong friend, a terminal illness, relocation, grief, isolation and more. These mental health conditions can be compounded by physical health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, COPD or cancer.
If you are concerned about the mental health of a parent, grandparent or elderly friend, Penn Highlands Healthcare provides specialized geriatric behavioral inpatient mental health care for adults 55+ at our hospitals in Brookville and Clearfield. Our specialized geriatric mental health teams are trained to treat both physical and mental health in older adults with compassionate, skilled care.
To get more information, please call:
- Senior Transitions Unit at Penn Highlands Brookville: 814-849-1850
- Bright Horizons Center for Emotional Wellness at Penn Highlands Clearfield: 814-768-2184
Senior Behavioral Health Conditions
Penn Highlands treats a range of mental health conditions in aging adults, including major depression, grief and loss, compulsive disorders, hallucinations, anxiety specific to aging, behavioral disturbances and complex psychiatric disorders. Often, memory issues and neurocognitive behavioral health can accompany these mental health conditions, which is why our teams are trained to assess and make referrals for patients who may be suspected of having dementia or Alzheimer’s. Our goal always is to help safely stabilize the patient so they can engage in a treatment plan.
What Elderly Psychiatric Inpatient Care Looks Like
Inpatient care for adults ages 55 and older is available at Penn Highlands Brookville and Clearfield. Both locations feature a 10-bed geropsychiatric inpatient unit specializing in the treatment of emotional and behavioral difficulties often experienced by seniors.
Your loved one will receive the highest quality care for both medical and mental health needs, delivered in a calm and quiet home-like environment. In addition to medical treatment, our mental health care for seniors includes a strong emphasis on wellness and therapeutic activities.
Our goal for geriatric inpatient behavioral health is to help your loved one re-establish emotional and cognitive stability and build coping skills so that they can engage in a post-hospital care plan with one of our outpatient care teams.
Inpatient Mental Health Care for Older Adults
Inpatient mental health care for adults ages 55+ are for people who are experiencing a mental health crisis and may harm themselves or others. If your elderly loved one is in crisis, call 9-1-1 if they are in danger of harming themselves or others, or have an accompanying physical health condition, such as chest pain. If your loved one is stable enough for you to transport them, take them to the closest emergency department.
Referrals for geriatric inpatient behavioral health services for adults 55+ can be made 24 hours a day by individuals, family members, friends, agencies, hospitals, clergy and physicians. For information and to make a referral, call:
- Senior Transitions Unit at Penn Highlands Brookville: 814-849-1850
- Bright Horizons Center for Emotional Wellness at Penn Highlands Clearfield: 814-768-2184
Comprehensive face-to-face assessments also are provided by trained mental health staff at Penn Highlands DuBois Emergency Department for inpatient or outpatient geriatric behavioral health services.
Outpatient Geriatric Mental Health Care in Pennsylvania
Not every elderly adult suffering from a mental health condition needs inpatient geriatric behavioral health care. After inpatient geriatric behavioral care — or as an alternative — Penn Highlands offers geriatric outpatient mental health care at Penn Highlands Stern Center for Behavioral Health in DuBois (East Campus) and Bright Horizons Outpatient Center in Clearfield, PA. We also offer telehealth and online therapy appointments.
If you notice subtle changes in your senior loved one, such as depression, anxiety, increased forgetfulness, withdrawal from their regular social activities, confusion or lack of attention to personal hygiene or household chores, it is important to talk to your loved one about considering professional mental health support to avoid a mental health crisis.
Visit Penn Highlands Outpatient Behavioral Health Services webpage or call us at 814-375-6379 for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions About Geriatric Behavioral Health
Penn Highlands Healthcare provides mental health services specific to the unique needs and challenges of seniors 55+. Often, this means treating mental health conditions alongside, or as a result of, physical health conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, COPD or cancer. Our highly trained, compassionate staff provide personalized care developed specifically for older adults.
If you believe your parent, grandparent or elderly loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, take them to the nearest emergency room or call 9-1-1.
Referrals for geriatric inpatient behavioral health services for adults 55+ can be made 24 hours a day by individuals, family members, friends, agencies, hospitals, clergy and physicians. For information and to make a referral, call:
- Senior Transitions Unit at Penn Highlands Brookville: 814-849-1850
- Bright Horizons Center for Emotional Wellness at Penn Highlands Clearfield: 814-768-2184
Comprehensive face-to-face assessments also are provided by trained mental health staff at the emergency department at Penn Highlands DuBois for inpatient or outpatient geriatric behavioral health services.
Visiting hours at Senior Transitions Unit at Penn Highlands Brookville are daily from 10 a.m.-noon and 5-7 p.m., with some exceptions to these hours as needed. Call 814-849-1850 for more information.
Visiting hours at Bright Horizons Center for Emotional Wellness at Penn Highlands Clearfield are daily from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Call 814-768-2184 to schedule a visit. Visits are limited to two visitors per day for two hours or less.
Penn Highlands geriatric behavioral health services is expert at treating mental health conditions in seniors alongside co-occurring physical health conditions, such as heart disease, COPD, diabetes and cancer. We believe in a holistic approach to healthcare, treating both mental and physical conditions in tandem to provide the most comprehensive care.
Yes, Penn Highlands offers a variety of outpatient mental health care services for seniors at Penn Highlands Stern Center for Behavioral Health in DuBois (East Campus) and Bright Horizons Outpatient Center in Clearfield, PA. We also offer telehealth and online therapy appointments.
A patient may be admitted to a geriatric inpatient psychiatric unit if:
- There is an imminent risk of harm to self or others.
- The person is exhibiting negative or high-risk behaviors while in the emergency department and there’s clear documentation of the behavior before being seen in the emergency room.
- Their behaviors are a new sudden change.
- Their symptoms are not manageable with behavioral, environmental or medication adjustments.
- They are considered unstable and cannot be supported in a lower level of care like that of a skilled nursing or assisted living facility.
Upon returning to their home or care facility, signs that your aging loved one may need inpatient care can include:
- A significant change from their baseline mental health
- New or escalating suicidal or violent ideation
- Increasing frequency or severity of behaviors despite outpatient treatment
- A medical or psychiatric change that alters their safety or care needs
