Geriatric Behavioral Health Services

As people age, they are confronted with physical, emotional and social changes that can be difficult to manage, even with the devoted support of family and friends. Elderly patients experience many changes in their lives which make them more vulnerable to disease, notably, depression. Often the lines are not clear as to whether a patient’s problem is depression, dementia, or a medical illness emerging as a behavioral disturbance.

Within the RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Network, our compassionate teams of geriatric psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, clinical social workers, and adjunct therapists work alongside our elderly patients and their families to achieve the best outcomes.

Our New Jersey facilities offer a complete range of inpatient and outpatient mental health services for geriatric patients. Treatments vary based on the severity of problems, but include psychotherapy, medications, home health care, outpatient programs structured for maintaining a high level of independence, and hospitalization providing a structured therapeutic approach in an appropriate environment.

Our Access Center offers 24-hour support and consultative services to help you find the very best behavioral health care in New Jersey. For more information or to make an appointment, call 800-300-0628.

Learn more about our geriatric behavioral health services below.

Geriatric Behavioral Health Services at Clara Maass Medical Center – Belleville, NJ

Inpatient Care

The Geriatric and Adult Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit at Clara Maass Medical Center (CMMC) offers an array of comprehensive, high-quality inpatient behavioral health services that address the needs of the growing population of individuals aged 65 and older who are struggling with mental health issues. Our multidisciplinary team develops exclusive treatment plans to help stabilize older adults suffering from dementia-related behavioral problems, depression, severe anxiety, bipolar disorder, and psychotic illness.

Located on-site at CMMC in the Continuing Care Building, the 22-bed inpatient voluntary unit complements the Medical Center’s existing 20-bed behavioral health involuntary inpatient unit. Services include:

• Intensive, patient-centered behavioral health services directed by a board-certified gero-psychiatrist
• Comprehensive psychiatric assessment
• Individualized treatment
• One-on-one intervention
• Psychiatric medication management
• Individual, group and family therapy
• Grief and loss counseling
• Behavioral health education
• Creative art and recreational therapy
• Pet therapy

Geriatric Behavioral Health Services at the RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center - Toms River, NJ

Inpatient and Outpatient Care

As a leader in mental health and substance abuse treatment in New Jersey, the RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center (BHBHC) offers clients, their families, and caregivers unparalleled access to a full continuum of behavioral health care services including those that specifically address geriatric psychiatric care. From short‐term psychiatric care to ongoing support, we provide a comprehensive array of mental and behavioral health programs designed for older adults. Our services include:

• 24‐hour crisis intervention and emergency psychiatric screenings
• inpatient geriatric psychiatric care
• partial hospitalization programs
• intensive outpatient counseling services
• outpatient services

S-COPE – Statewide Clinical Outreach Program for the Elderly at Trinitas Regional Medical Center – Elizabeth, NJ

Outpatient Care for Long-Term Care Settings

S-COPE is a community-based, grant-funded program through the NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and administered by Trinitas Regional Medical Center. S-COPE provides crisis response, consultation, and training for the management of psychiatric and behavioral issues in older adults residing in long-term care settings. Services are provided by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of a geriatric psychiatrist, geriatric advanced nurse practitioner, registered nurse, licensed social worker, and masters level clinicians. All services are free of charge.

S-COPE services are accessed by screening centers, psychiatric in-patient units, and Long-term care facilities. For more information call 855-718-2699 24 hours a day 7 days a week.