Rural Connecticut hospital’s behavioral health unit, meals program support older adults’ well-being
Sharon Hospital
Sharon, Conn.
Older adults may encounter health and life challenges that can put them at greater risk for depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many adults don’t get the care they need for depression or other mental health issues because they think their symptoms are a normal part of getting older. But the CDC emphasizes that depression is “not a normal sign of aging [and instead is] a treatable condition that requires medical attention.”
The Senior Behavioral Health Unit at Sharon Hospital, serving rural northwestern Connecticut, offers short-term inpatient psychiatric care for adults age 55 or older. The unit focuses on stabilizing patients and helping them return to their best level of functioning outside the hospital.
Services begin with a comprehensive assessment and address a range of symptoms, including suicidal thoughts, confusion, memory changes, inability to care for oneself, abrupt behavioral changes, isolation, substance misuse, and difficulty with impulse control. Other concerns addressed include anger, irritability, agitation, and significant changes in sleep or appetite. The unit’s team offers compassionate support and intervention for individuals facing behavioral health challenges and their families.
In addition to these services, Sharon Hospital offers a Senior Meals Program for adults age 65 or older, thanks in part to a grant from the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation. Older adults can enjoy nutritious meals for breakfast and lunch, at a deep discount, at the hospital’s café. Sharon Hospital has hosted several “senior suppers” as part of this program. Older adults in the community attend these dinners, typically once a month, to enjoy a discounted meal and hear presentations on healthy aging from hospital clinicians and other local physicians. Access to healthy, well-balanced meals supports older adults’ physical and mental health and well-being, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases, improving energy levels, enhancing mood and more.