WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital

Senior Behavioral Health Program

WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital now offers an outpatient senior behavioral health program to support older adults called Senior Life Solutions.

Questions? Call 304-460-7455

What is a Senior Behavioral Health program?

Our outpatient Senior Behavioral Health program is designed to support the mental health of older adults experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental challenges often associated with aging. Through Senior Life Solutions, patients can participate in individual and group therapy, psychiatry, medication management, and health screens. Participants in our program attend group, individual, and family therapy sessions led by a licensed therapist. They also meet with a psychiatrist at least once a month.

How does someone know if they are eligible for our Senior Behavioral Health Program? How can they be referred?

Anyone can make a referral to our program, including self-referrals, primary care physicians, specialists, family members, friends, community groups, and nursing or residential facilities. A clinician can provide a confidential assessment to determine if you, or a loved one, are eligible for the program. Just give us a call at 304-460-7455.

What kinds of challenges do older adults face as they age, and how do these challenges affect their mental health?

Many of us will experience major life changes as we age, including retirement, moving to a new home, losing a loved one, physical limitations, or a loss of independence. These changes can be difficult to process and lead us to feel sad, guilty, hopeless, or even worthless. Life changes, especially those we didn’t initiate, can trigger symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges that can negatively impact the way we live. When we don’t treat these symptoms, or we cope with them in unhealthy ways, our quality of life can quickly deteriorate. Our mental health can impact the way we experience life and even affect our physical health.

Our Senior Behavioral Health Program Can Help Older Adults Who Are Experiencing:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Chronic health diagnosis
  • Recent traumatic event
  • Loss of a loved one
  • Change in living conditions
  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Frequent feelings of sadness, guilt, worry, or worthlessness
  • Need for frequent visits to the emergency room or clinic
  • Feeling overwhelmed or stressed due to being a caregiver
  • Change in energy, sleep, and/or weight

Struggling? We Are Here to Help!

Following a comprehensive, confidential, individual assessment, patients meet up to three times per week in a supportive, encouraging group setting. Led by a licensed therapist, these supportive groups offer a safe space to share experiences, practice coping and communication skills, receive feedback, and build connections with others facing similar challenges.

We also offer:

  • Individual therapy

  • Family therapy

  • Teletherapy

  • Medication education and management

  • After-care planning

Benefits of Our Program:

  • Coping and communication skills
  • Regular health screens (vital signs, sleep patterns, weight changes, mood, etc.)
  • Medication management
  • Psychiatric treatment
  • Individual therapy
  • Group support

Location

WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital Senior Behavioral Health Program is located in Pallotti Pavilion at 102 Pallottine Drive, Building P, Buckhannon, WV 26201