A psychiatrist and staff provide a regular team presence at your care facility:

• Offer a variety of treatment approaches to increase the quality of life among your residents
• Reduce your staff's stress and time needed to manage patients
• Give recognition for your home to family members and professionals and other care givers who have a need for referral to a quality nursing home through activities and visibility in the community

We provide a full range of services and assist residents, family members, physicians and staff in recognizing existing and potential problems and formulating solutions.

For residents who are mildly depressed or with previous severe psychiatric illness such as bipolar episodes, as well as those who become severely isolated and withdrawn regardless of the case, whether it be of stroke, Alzheimer's, medication interaction or adverse reactions which result in marked apathy.

We offer comprehensive psychiatric programs for intervention which are developed after an evaluation of the resident, involving family, staff, primary physicians and other mental health professionals.

Because of the variety of impaired cognitions, we believe in and strongly encourage the development of bonding relationships, which requires frequent contact as necessary with the resident. In addition, it is essential to collaborate and have the input of all individuals and professionals who interact with the resident to provide optimum care and psychiatric services.

In addition, we take pride in using medications sparingly, conservatively and judiciously.

Medications are used in a sufficient dosage to gain the desired improvement, as well as for an extended period of time, to assess the the gradual benefits that are often not dramatic. This is compounded by undesired side effects the resident cannot adequately communicate, or changes consistently observed by the staff. Frequently evaluating the impact of medications is important because there is a tendency to minimize positive results because of disruptions, or focus on other more severe or pressing medical problems, lack of knoledge, and/or lack of specialized training. Thus, we provide psychiatric expertise, as well as awareness and information on the latest capabilities of the newer psychotropic medications, as well as the more specialized role of the older "tried-and-true" tranquilizers and sleeping adjuncts.

In summary, our approach is to treat the whole person. Thus, care is provided in a sensitive manner, taking into consideration the advances and knoledge of biological, social and psychological components for the elderly, to obtain optimum care.