Alzheimer’s Treatment Center in New Castle & Wilmington, DE

Learn more about Alzheimer’s disease treatment at MeadowWood Behavioral Health Hospital in New Castle, DE

At MeadowWood Behavioral Health System in New Castle, Deleware, we recognize how terrifying it can be when someone receives a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Known to be the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease can rapidly bring about a number of negative effects on the lives of those afflicted by it. Remaining cognizant of the sensitive nature that surrounds this illness, as well as the many unique needs of its sufferers, MeadowWood has created specialized programming that is tailored to meet those needs. When individuals with Alzheimer’s disease receive effective treatment, such as that which is offered at MeadowWood, it can drastically reduce the intensity of and prolong the onset of many of its devastating symptoms, allowing people to live a longer, higher quality of life.

Settled on 11 private acres, MeadowWood’s treatment clinic 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 compassionate care that we are able to afford to everyone who enters our doors. 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 suffering from the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and feel like there is nowhere to turn, look no further than MeadowWood. We will do everything in our power to help you get back on track to living the happy, healthy life that you deserve to be living.

Helping a loved one get treatment for Alzheimer’s disease

Having a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease can be frightening and elicit much worry in those in the individual’s life. If you have a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, you are likely experiencing a wide array of emotions and may be feeling helpless as to what you can do for your loved one and how you can best be of help to him or her. The following are some examples of things that you can do to help improve the life of a loved one who is struggling with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s:

• Develop routines for everyday life that have consistency so that your loved one can become accustomed to doing them
• Engage your loved one in tasks that work to boost memory
• Along with other family members, decide who will be in charge of making healthcare and financial decisions for your loved one once he or she is no longer able to
• Determine who will be involved in caring for your loved one
• Determine where your loved one will live once he or she is no longer able to live independently
• Be patient and understanding
• Research various treatment options and, once your loved one has become engaged in treatment, be an active part of your loved one’s care
• Seek guidance from and adhere to recommendations provided by the doctors and mental health professionals who are in charge of your loved one’s care

It is also extremely important that you remember to take care of yourself as well. When individuals have Alzheimer’s disease, the symptoms of the illness will gradually progress and they will likely require increasing amounts of assistance with daily tasks. This can rapidly begin to feel overwhelming for caretakers, so it is of paramount importance that you find time to relax.

Why consider treatment for Alzheimer’s disease at MeadowWood Behavioral Health Hospital in New Castle & Wilmington, DE

As was previously mentioned, the progressive nature of Alzheimer’s disease can ultimately render individuals incapable of functioning independently. These individuals are also likely to begin to experience behavioral and emotional changes and disturbances as well. Things that were once familiar to them may suddenly seem foreign. People who they know and love may suddenly seem like strangers whom they have never met before. They may begin to make irrational accusations towards loved ones, or act out violently and aggressively. In the vast majority of cases, individuals in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease end up needing around-the-clock care, which can be difficult to accept, but it is important that treatment is received and adhered to in order to prevent further devastation.

Inpatient treatment services have proven to be of great benefit for individuals who have Alzheimer’s disease. This type of programming affords individuals short-term, yet intensive, treatment in order to find stabilization from any number of detriments that Alzheimer’s can elicit. Inpatient services offer individuals a safe environment with 24/7 monitoring that ensures their well-being as they stabilize and learn beneficial ways of managing their behaviors and symptoms. Additionally, this option gives individuals an opportunity to have consistent access to a psychiatrist who can monitor any psychotropic medications that may be necessary to help alleviate some of their distressing symptoms. Furthermore, these services allow individuals to have a chance to be surrounded by peers who are facing similar trials and challenges, showing them that they are not alone in their struggles. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, treatment such as that which is provided through an inpatient program can help reduce the intensity of symptoms and afford individuals a chance at a greater quality of life.

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 Alzheimer’s disease treatment offered at MeadowWood Behavioral Health Hospital in New Castle, DE

At MeadowWood Behavioral Health System, 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 being afforded the ability to create fully 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 skill 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 treatment services offered here at MeadowWood’s treatment center 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 into our treatment clinic, the following treatment modalities may be included into their plans for care, 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 if drugs or alcohol are present in their bodies. 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: In some instances, psychotropic medications may be implemented in order to help alleviate the distressing symptoms that accompany Alzheimer’s disease or a co-occurring mental health condition. However, 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 & Wilmington is heavily group-focused as we have learned that this type of intervention greatly helps out patients understand that they are not alone in the challenges that they face. This knowledge in and of itself assists patients in heightening 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 sessions: At MeadowWood’s center in New Castle, 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:

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

Continuing care and levels of treatment for Alzheimer’s disease

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 a positive continuation of care once they are discharged from their inpatient stay.

At MeadowWood’s treatment clinic in Deleware, we offer a partial hospitalization program for adults and senior adults that is designed to assist them in maintaining stabilization without requiring them to engage in the intensity of full hospitalization. This option provides 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 a partial hospitalization program, 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 your or your loved one’s needs may be, the caring and compassionate staff at MeadowWood Behavioral Health System will devote ourselves to helping you find and maintain true, lasting recovery and healing.