In today’s Healthcare, one area that is still very highly forgotten about is mental health. Unfortunately there are still barriers to help. There is the stigma that mental illness is “not real illness”.
Senior assistance in skilled nursing
Luckily over the years there has been some more focus on mental health for residents of nursing homes. Some facilities actually have contracted services that not only utilize Psychiatrists for medication management but also involve clinical social workers and therapists to focus on talk therapy also.
I have seen this make a tremendous impact on the short term residents I have worked with over the years. It definitely helps with the trauma of the whole process and the depressive feelings of not being home.
Unfortunately there is still the stigma of needing help for some. Some of those that need it the most are the very ones that refuse the services.
After discharge
Unfortunately frequently as far as we have come with our residents while in the facility, there is poor follow up after discharge of services that would significantly benefit them. They can quickly go from having a curtain of safety to being out on their own again.
Dementia outbursts complicate matters even more
Dementia is a very complicated and complex disease. There are moments where anger and outbursts are demonstrated by residents with Dementia. This can not only be verbal outbursts but can even by physically violent outbursts.
Nowhere to get help
Unfortunately when there is a significant outburst it usually involves transferring to the hospital. After a short stay at a regular hospital, frequently a facility will not accept that resident back. Ideally they need a Geriatric Psychological stay. Frequently there is such a backlog and waiting list for those beds that they start to be stuck at the hospital and just wind up in another skilled nursing facility. All that has happened is a start back to the beginning of the cycle. All just waiting for the next outburst to start the cycle again.
Not just the residents
As far as we have come for the residents, there are still very limited services for the caregivers and the staff caring for them.
Limited Insurance coverage
Many times as healthcare workers our health insurance policies frequently have limited to no coverage for mental health services that are affordable. Some companies will offer some short term assistance for a traumatic event, but long term there are usually limited options.
We need to learn to care for ourselves
All in all we need to learn to take care of ourselves. We need to find ways to unwind. Family time and leisure time is so important for our own metal well being. We need to not be afraid to utilize whatever services are there for us and hopefully soon in the future there will ve more of an emphasis on our mental health. It will make us better caregivers in the long term.
