Community-Based Mental Health Services
The following mental health services may be available in your loved one's community. Most of these programs are for adults of all ages. Ask the doctor to recommend the type of service that is right for your loved one. If the doctor refers you to a program for adults of all ages, ask the program coordinator to tell you which professionals at the facility have experience working with the elderly.
Centers & Programs
Out-patient Mental Health Centers
These centers provide out-patient treatment for people of all ages. Some are operated with public funds; others have private funding. Mental health centers range from large facilities with many professionals to small offices with one or two therapists. At these centers, mental health professionals evaluate the client's needs and develop a treatment plan, which sometimes includes medication prescribed by a psychiatrist.
Psychiatric Day Hospitals (also called Partial-Hospitalization Programs)
Psychiatric day hospitals provide an alternative to residential psychiatric care; these programs provide structured activities, including group and individual psychotherapy, during the day. The patient returns home at night and usually remains home all weekend. Some of these facilities specialize in geriatric care. These programs are suitable for people who are recovering from a serious mental illness.
Some out-patient mental health centers have specialized geriatric services. For example, Baltimore County's community mental health centers have county-funded outreach teams for individuals who are 60 years of age or older. The teams provide treatment in the client's home or in the mental health center. The outreach teams also run support groups in some of the county's senior centers.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs
These programs are designed for adults of all ages who have long-term, serious mental illness. Clients attend the programs during the day. Services may include training in independent living skills and job readiness, as well as group and individual counseling.
Services
Emergency Mental Health Services
Some areas in Maryland have community-based emergency mental health services for people of all ages. These services may include crisis hotlines and urgent care clinics. Some communities also have mobile crisis teams, composed of a mental health professional and a plain-clothed police officer, that respond to persons in crisis in the community. The teams work to stabilize crisis situations and prevent unnecessary hospitalization.
Residential Services
These programs provide supervised residences for individuals with long-term, serious mental illness. Most programs serve adults of all ages. Some of these facilities also have “crisis beds” which are designed to provide emergency help to individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. These services can prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.
Support Groups in Senior Centers
Some seniors experience problems that cause them concern but are not severe enough to require individual therapy or other treatment. If the doctor feels that your loved one does not need a referral for professional mental health services, but you think you or your relative could benefit from talking with others about the problem, a senior center-based supportive group might help. Howard County Office on Aging's SPRING program offers groups led by professionals at centers throughout the county. In other jurisdictions, trained peers may conduct the groups. Most groups focus on a specific theme, such as coping with loss, caring for a sick spouse or dealing with the changes of aging. For information on these groups, contact your local Senior Information and Assistance Office.
Every region in Maryland has a Core Service Agency that coordinates public mental health services in that locality and provides information to the community about these services. In Baltimore County, the Core Service Agency is the Baltimore County Health Department's Bureau of Mental Health. To find the Core Service Agency in other counties, contact your local Senior Information and Assistance Office.