The entire staff working in the new Lakeland Senior Connections program, from left, RN Tara Redmond; LMSW Milah Wells; RN/Transportation Specialist Jason Harrison; LPN Grace Mobley; Registration and Scheduling Tonya Clark; RN and Program Director Heather Hall; RN/Chart Audit Specialist Jon Rea; RN/Community Liaison Jan Colburn; RN/Community Liaison Debbie Hines; Lead RN Gini Stewart; RN/Activity Director Enjoli Godsey. Not pictured is RN Miranda Elkins.
The new Lakeland Senior Connections program, which opened its doors Monday, March 30, has been created to serve a population whose mental health needs in the past may have been overlooked, health officials said.
The new outpatient program, located on the second floor of Lakeland Community Hospital in Haleyville, is designed to meet the mental, behavioral and emotional needs of residents 65 and older not only throughout Winston County, but into Marion County, stressed Lakeland Chief Executive Officer Cherie Sibley.
“If you look at the population in Winston County, we have a large number of people over the age of 65,” Sibley stated. “(Having) seen it with both of my parents and other people’s parents, the people ages 65 and above, a lot of things change.
“People lose spouses. They retire. With that comes an emotional roller coaster, sometimes,” Sibley pointed out.
“It’s sadness, depression, anxiety,” she added. “You’re not as strong as you used to be. You are not able to do the things you used to do.”
Lakeland Senior Connections is staffed with experts in psychiatry, nursing, nutrition and behavioral needs, Sibley stated.
The program features a psychiatrist on staff from the hospital, as well as nurses who have been doing geriatric and psychiatric work for many years from an in-patient standpoint, Sibley explained.
“This is an outpatient program that is for the entire county and for all of the outlying communities,” Sibley then emphasized.
“We are offering this program, not just to people here in Haleyville, which is important, but also to Arley, Addison, Double Springs, Lynn, Bear Creek,” Sibley continued to point.
“We want the people in Arley and Addison to know (about) this service,” Sibley further emphasized.
“We are so fortunate to be able to offer a program for the entire county,” Sibley pointed out.
The new program is covered by Medicare, with Medicare Advantage plans also being checked for the participants, according to workers in the program.
Lakeland Senior Connection, which occupies a portion of the hospital’s former inpatient unit on the second floor, has already been remodeled for outpatient services, with a sign-in/reception area, two group therapy rooms, offices for staff members, a dining area and a recreational and activities area, according to Heather Hall, program manager for Lakeland Senior Connections.
“We will also take the old patient rooms and convert it into offices and room to grow,” Hall pointed out.
“It’s a friendly environment. It’s a happy environment. It really helps people build those coping skills as they enter those golden years of life,” Sibley pointed out.
The program is Monday-Thursday each week from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Staff for the program will also be available on Fridays, if needed, Hall stated. Interested persons or their family members can call (205) 485-7252.
New program
provides
transportation service
A van has been provided for the new program, which can pick up residents from across Winston and into Marion County and transport them back and forth to the program, organizers said.
“You have a lot of people in our area that aren’t able to get out and drive. (This gives) them a way to get out and socialize with people, make new friends, learn new things and really improve their quality of life,” stressed RN Jason Harrison, who is over the Connections transportation services.
Residents who are able to provide their own transportation, are also welcome to come, meet with intake nurses and get set up for the program, organizers added.
Sibley urged anyone who meets the qualifications to reach out to them to start the wheels turning on what is being termed as valuable services.
Seniors who wish to become a part of the new connections program do not necessarily have to have a doctor’s referral, Sibley explained.
“We do have all the physicians and providers that we want to ensure have the information, so they can call us and we can make sure we have that information,” Sibley added.
Residents can make a self-referral to the new program, see their primary care provider or home health can make a referral, according to Hall.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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