At times, caring for a senior family member may seem overwhelming. They may be subject to mood swings and other behavioral changes.
However, caregivers and seniors of Pearl River County can rely on the medical staff at Highland Community Hospital’s The Grove to provide necessary care and education.
The Grove was established in 2013, Highland Community Hospital Administrator Mark Stockstill said.
“We noticed an increasing number of seniors with medical and behavioral health problems,” Stockstill said. “When we see a need, we meet a need. The United State’s senior population is growing and Picayune is a retirement community.”
The Grove provides specialized care for behavioral issues in adults older than 60, Stockstill said.
Psychiatrist and Grove Medical Director Dr. Anwant Chawla teams up with Dr. Dipo Kusemiju to provide mental and physical care to their patients.
“We see all types of behavioral health problems, but the main types are dementia and pseudo-dementia,” Chawla said. “Pseudo-dementia is when a person appears to have dementia. The number one underlying reason is depression. If the patient’s memory loss improves after treatment, then we know it wasn’t dementia. It’s important to have a second opinion from other physicians and neuropsychological testing.”
The type of treatment offered at The Grove is three-fold, Chawla said, which includes biological, psychological and social.
Kusemiju handles the medical aspect of a patient’s care.
“I monitor their medications and treat any underlying medical problems, such blood pressure and sugar levels, anything that might aggravate their mental condition,” Kusemiju said.
The average stay for a patient is 10 to 14 days, depending on their individual response to treatment, Chawla said.
“After two weeks, we perform an assessment and sometimes two weeks is not long enough,” Chawla said. “Every Monday, we invite the families, caregivers and friends here to discuss a patient’s care. I see more tears from the loved ones than the patient, because the patient might not be suffering when their basic needs are being meet.”
The 10-bed facility, housed inside Highland Hospital, is staffed 24-hours a day and features two activity rooms and a washer and dryer, Marsha Stanton, RN, said.
“We encourage our patients to bring clothes from home to make them feel more comfortable,” Stanton said. “The patients eat, participate in group therapy, and arts and crafts in the activity rooms.”
After discharge, both Chawla and Kusemiju continue to care for their patients in a clinical setting.
The warning signs of behavioral health problems include changes in mood, suicidal inclinations and agitation, Kusemiju said.
“We recommend things to family members, including ensuring the patient does not have easy access to sharp objects,” Chawla said. “We also encourage caregivers to ensure there are no sharp edges in the patient’s room and make recommendations about bed height.”
The Grove is located at Highland Community Hospital, 130 Highland Parkway, Picayune.
For more information about The Grove, contact medical staff at 601-358-9881.