Dementia Treatment Center in New Castle & Wilmington, DE

Learn more about dementia treatment at MeadowWood Behavioral Health Hospital in New Castle, DE

As we get older, it is normal to experience some light cognitive impairments. However, when people suffer from a decline in their cognitive abilities that starts to negatively affect their lives, it may be indicative of the presence of a more serious problem, such as dementia. At MeadowWood Behavioral Health System in New Castle & Wilmington, we recognize that this is a difficult time for many older adults and we are here to provide you with the comfort and direction you need. Dementia is defined as a group of symptoms that comes to affect a person’s memory, thinking abilities, and social functioning so severely that it prevents them from functioning properly on a day-to-day basis. Those with dementia will suffer from memory loss, impaired judgment and/or language, and will gradually lose the ability to take care of themselves. While dementia is a progressive disease with no known cure, there are a number of therapeutic approaches that can help individuals better manage their symptoms and continue to live life to the fullest. At MeadowWood’s treatment center, you will find a hospital full of knowledgeable and compassionate staff members who are dedicated to providing care that will help to improve the lives of everyone we meet.

MeadowWood Behavioral Health System in New Castle is a premier provider of behavioral healthcare and chemical dependency services for adolescents, adults, and senior adults. Offering specialized programming that is tailored to meet the unique needs of each population that we serve, we are proud of the kindhearted care that we are able to offer to everyone who enters our doors. Furthermore, our staff is passionate about what we do and is genuine in the care and concern that we offer. We strive to develop plans of success for the patients we treat, and we take great pride in the fact that we do what we say we are going to do. We believe that communication is key and we aim to be an open book. Our staff works together like a family; everyone helps everyone. And from the moment you come to us for care, you become part of our family. If you or a loved one is struggling with the symptoms of dementia, look no further; MeadowWood can help.

Helping a loved one get treatment for dementia

When it comes to helping a loved one with dementia, it is common for a caregiver to face a lot of challenges on a daily basis. Of all potential challenges, one of the most frequent that many caregivers find frustrating is trying to communicate with their loved one, especially when they are not completely sure as to what their loved one needs or wants. Here are some helpful tips for communicating with dementia patients:

• Remain patient and have a positive attitude
• Use clear language with simple words and sentences
• Speak slowly in a reassuring tone
• Use exact names instead of abbreviations

Another challenge that commonly arises when caring for someone who has been diagnosed with dementia are unpredictable shifts in personality or behavior. If you find yourself facing constant mood swings and behavioral changes, the following tips may come in handy:

• Try to remain flexible
• Be patient
• Be compassionate

Finally, if you are taking care of a loved one who has dementia, there are going to be times where you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and as though you have no time for yourself. It is important for any caregiver to remember that taking some much needed time off is vital to maintaining good emotional health and avoiding burn out. Here are some options you can look into so that you are able to take a break now and again:

• Look for a licensed home care agency
• Share the responsibility of care with other family members

Why consider treatment for dementia at MeadowWood Behavioral Health Hospital in New Castle & Wilmington, DE

Dementia involves damage to the nerves of a person’s brain and will effect each person differently depending upon the area of the brain that has been affected. As the disease slowly progresses, it can disrupt the normal functioning of each body system and lead to the development of a whole host of problems. These problems may include inadequate nutrition, reduced hygiene, deterioration of emotional health, difficulties communicating, and personal safety challenges. As time goes on, the challenges you are facing will only get worse, which is why you should seek treatment as soon as possible.

The treatment for dementia is ultimately going to be determined based upon the cause of the illness’s onset. However, in most cases of progressive dementia, there is no cure and no treatment that will actually slow the progression of this disease down. For this reason, treatment usually focuses on trying to improve and/or control the presenting symptoms of dementia. In many cases, treatment has shown to be most effective when a combination of psychotherapy and medication, as well as the implementation of environmental changes, is used. For many individuals with dementia, a psychiatric center that has services specifically designed to meet the challenges faced by this population is one of the most effective forms of care available. Our mental health treatment clinic places an individual in a safe environment where they can begin to address the challenging symptoms brought on by this disease while also receiving care that ensures medication effectiveness. All of the treatment methods offered in an inpatient setting can help an individual return to his or her highest level of functioning for the greatest length of time possible.

MeadowWood Behavioral Health Hospital philosophy and benefits

At MeadowWood’s center, we are committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive behavioral healthcare and substance abuse services to everyone who is entrusted into our care. Our commitment extends to the family as a whole, and all of our endeavors are aimed at delivering the highest quality of treatment possible in the safest, most comfortable environment available. Our greatest strength is our compassion and our dedication to helping people in their time of need. We do not simply treat the symptoms that our patients present with, we treat the whole person. We focus on all of the little things, because we recognize that all of the little things together are what brings about a true picture of healing. In keeping open communication between clinical team members, our patients, and our patients’ families, we are able to provide exceptional customer service in an empathic manner, ensuring that the main focus always remains solely on our patients and helping them find true recovery that leads to lasting success.

Types of dementia treatment offered at MeadowWood Behavioral Health Hospital in New Castle, DE

At MeadowWood’s treatment clinic, we believe that each patient is unique, which is why we focus on treating the person, not just his or her illness. Our treatment teams work closely with patients and their families in order to gain a full understanding of the issues they are facing. By doing so, we are able to create individualized treatment plans for each and every patient that specifically addresses all of the concerns that he or she may have. These individualized treatment plans draw upon the vast skills set of a physician-led, multidisciplinary team of clinical professionals that include psychiatrists, Master’s level therapists, care managers, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, recreation therapists, substance abuse counselors, medical consultants, and qualified mental health technicians.

The services offered here at MeadowWood in New Castle near Wilmington include an adolescent behavioral program, an adult psychiatric program, a senior behavioral health program, a co-occurring diagnosis program, and medical detoxification programs. Free, confidential mental health assessments are offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week whereupon highly trained and qualified clinicians obtain pertinent information which is then reviewed with one of our physicians. Upon that consultation, a recommendation for the most appropriate level of care will be offered based on the presenting needs and concerns of the patient.

Based on the identified needs of the patients, the most appropriate treatment option will be determined. For those patients who are admitted, the following treatment modalities may be included into their care plans, of which will be determined based on their specific needs and abilities:

Medical detoxification: For those patients who come to us dependent on substances, medical detoxification may be the first step of the recovery process. This process is carefully monitored by our physicians and nursing staff. Once detox is complete, patients will begin engaging in a variety of therapeutic interventions.

Medication management: All medication needs are determined on a case-by-case basis. All patients in all of our units meet with a psychiatrist daily for medication management in order to ensure the therapeutic effectiveness of any medications that are prescribed, as well as to make any changes that may be necessary.

Group therapy: Our approach to treatment at MeadowWood in New Castle is heavily group-focused as we have learned that this type of intervention greatly helps our patients realize that they are not alone in the challenges that they face. This knowledge can help patients heighten their sense of self-worth as they come to understand that they do not need to feel isolated in their struggles. Engaging in groups also encourages patients to find healing in the act of expressing themselves, enhancing self-reliance that works to build their self-esteem. These group therapy sessions cover a vast array of topics, tailored to address issues that are specific to the patients participating in each group.

Individual therapy: Individual therapy sessions are offered to all patients on an as-needed basis. These sessions occur on a one-to-one basis with a patient’s therapist and are designed to be a time to address any concerns the patient may have, to discuss issues that he or she wishes to keep confidential, and to track one’s progress towards reaching his or her treatment goals.

Family session: At MeadowWood’s treatment clinic, we believe that family involvement in one’s treatment is instrumental in eliciting successful treatment outcomes. For this reason, all patients are able to engage in family sessions in order to help family members understand their loved one’s illness, to educate them on how they can best support their loved one, and to help maintain open communication in order to create a healthy family dynamic.

Education: Keeping in mind the importance of a child’s education, our adolescent services incorporate schooling into each patient’s treatment plan so that he or she does not fall behind academically while engaging in treatment for behavioral or emotional concerns. We employ certified teachers who, along with the other members of the adolescent’s treatment team, collaborate with the child’s home school, both in verbal and written form, pending releases of information provided by the child’s parent or guardian.

In addition to the previously mentioned interventions, other types of therapies that are incorporated into our patients’ treatment plans typically include:

• Expressive therapy
• Pet therapy
• Recreational therapy
• Substance abuse counseling
• Substance abuse education
• Medication education
• Process groups
• Psycho-education on mental illness
• Positive coping skills education
• Reminiscent therapy (for our senior adult patients)

Continuing care and levels of treatment for dementia

The main goal that we have for our patients when they come to MeadowWood is to help them stabilize so that they can move on to a lower, less intensive level of care. For this reason, all aftercare planning begins at the time of admission. As soon as patients are admitted, their treatment team begins the process of preparing a plan for success in order to promote positive continuation of care once they are discharged from their inpatient stay.

At MeadowWood’s mental health treatment clinic, we offer partial hospitalization for adolescents, adults, and senior adults that is designed to assist them in maintaining stabilization without requiring them to engage in the intensity of full inpatient hospitalization. We provide structured programming between 8:30am and 2:30pm, allowing patients to return home at night. An intensive, interdisciplinary approach is used, which helps to supplement the recovery process when traditional outpatient treatment is not enough or is not available. In addition, partial hospitalization works at providing a transition for recent inpatient clients as they begin to integrate back into their everyday lives.

For our adolescent patients, as well as for our adult patients do not require or who have already completed partial hospitalization, our staff will utilize the positive relationships that we have with care providers throughout the community, with whom coordination of services can optimally be managed once patients leave our treatment clinic.

Whatever you or your loved one’s needs may be, the wonderful staff at MeadowWood Behavioral Health System will devote themselves to helping you find a greater sense of overall well-being and quality of life.