ROME - Jeannie Blankenship has a special mission. As the program director for Rome Memorial Hospital’s new 11-bed Senior Behavioral Health Unit (SBHU), she is reconnecting seniors with themselves and their families by treating depression and other mental health disorders.

"I’m very happy to have the opportunity to start this unit," she said. "I have implemented similar programs twice before and I will take the lessons learned and apply them here. I’m thrilled to be able to give these seniors the possibility of a healthier, happier future."

Blankenship "hit the ground running," when the unit opened in December. "I’ve never seen this level of demand for a new unit in its first month of operation," she said. "The hospital’s assessment of the community’s need for this type of program was on target."

Located on the hospital’s second floor, the Senior Behavioral Health Unit is a secured therapeutic environment that provides short-term treatment for patients who are exhibiting behaviors that could harm themselves or others.

Some of the common mental disorder symptoms that the unit treats include severe hopelessness and/or helplessness, suicidal thoughts or behavior, assault-like behavior, depression/confusion, sleep or eating disturbances, severe agitation and aggressiveness, and acute changes in mental status. On average, patients participate in about five hours of treatment groups and activities per day for 12 to 14 days.

The unit creates a home-like environment where seniors can feel comfortable by being with other seniors, said Blankenship. Treatment includes prescribed medications, proper diet, leisure activities, psychotherapy, music—whatever treatments are necessary to bridge the gap between the senior’s mental disorder and well being. They work with the senior’s primary care physician to ensure that there is proper medical attention on all levels.

By tapping into what made them feel good about themselves or what made them feel productive, these seniors can become much happier and healthier. Blankenship cites an instance where the husband of a senior patient danced with his wife who was in a wheelchair. This experience evoked fond memories and helped to foster mental and physical healing for this patient.

The family of each senior is involved throughout the course of the treatment. They provide background on the history, psychology, faith, and social aspects of the senior’s life, which gives the staff the necessary foundation to develop an effective treatment plan. The SBHU team meets with the family throughout treatment so that they can ask questions and have the tools to understand what’s going on with their loved one.

Blankenship’s understanding of people is rooted in her training as a social worker. She received a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and a master’s in social welfare, both from the University of Kansas. She also holds a clinical social worker license from Kansas and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. Through the years, Blankenship worked in many different capacities, ranging from the director of homeless services for a community Salvation Army, to a case manager at a mental health center, to a social worker at a state hospital before moving into senior mental health.

The SBHU is also staffed by a social worker, a recreational therapist, registered and licensed practical nurses, a geriatrician, and a psychiatrist, who is the medical director.

"I am thrilled to have the expertise of a geriatrician, in addition to the psychiatrist," said Blankenship. "This is the first facility that I’ve been affiliated with that’s had a dedicated geriatrician. In a senior behavioral health unit, our patients’ mental health problems are often complicated by chronic medical conditions. With both professionals, we are better able to care for our patients."

Blankenship is an advocate for her staff and she sets a tone of respect—for each person on the staff and patients who reside in the unit. Her primary goal for the staff is training and education to ensure that patients have excellent care.

Protecting her patient’s confidentiality is another priority for Blankenship. The names of the patients in the unit do not appear in the hospital’s directory. Visitors are permitted during visiting hours; however, they must have prior approval from the patient. The visiting hours are 3:30 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. weekdays and 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. weekends.