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Conway Regional opens Senior Evaluation & Counseling Center
Conway Regional Health System has opened the Senior Evaluation & Counseling Center focusing on the mental health needs of senior adults.
The outpatient center is the first of its kind in the Conway area and will specialize in treating dementia patients, including individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as caring for other emotional and behavioral issues of senior adults. The center will provide memory assessments, counseling services, medication evaluations and caregiver education as well as develop care plans to address mental health issues in senior adults.
"There is a great need for senior mental health services in this area, and we believe this new center will become a valuable resource for our growing population," said Jim Lambert, Conway Regional's President and CEO.
The center is located in the medical park at 2425 Dave Ward Drive, Suite 102, near the intersection of Dave Ward Drive and Nutter Chapel (Farris).
Partial funding for the center is being provided by a $375,000 federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that will be received over the course of three years. The remaining costs will be funded by Conway Regional. The HRSA federal grants are administered by the state Department of Health and Human Services.
The center’s professional staff is being led by Psychiatrist Karen Young, MD, and Neuropsychologist Mark Clark, Ed.D. The professional staff also includes a mental health clinic manager.
“I am pleased to be a part of the start up staff for what we hope will grow to serve many senior health issues,” said Dr. Young. “We will evaluate and treat patients who have emotional and cognitive issues of the aging brain; problems with mood, judgment, behavior, and memory that are a result of changes in the brain that affect independence and quality of life.”
Dr. Clark said, “Senior citizens comprise the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. This program, the Senior Evaluation and Counseling Center, was uniquely designed to specifically meet the behavioral health needs of senior citizens. We are excited about this new program and delighted to be able to make these services available to our community.”
Mr. Lambert added, “This will be a community effort and we are pleased that so many individuals and organizations are stepping up to help us.”
Conway Regional is working closely with a team of local senior services organizations that include the Senior Citizens Program, Arkansas Hospice Inc., Southridge Village Assisted Living, Unity Adult Care Center and Transportation, Trillium Park Assisted Living Facility and Home Instead Senior Care. They will offer a mental health literacy program and other forms of outreach to seniors. An advisory board has been created to represent community organizations and caregivers.
The outpatient center complements Conway Regional's inpatient Geriatric Transitional Care Center by providing a local source for follow up care for patients after they are discharged from the short-term mental health unit. Outpatient mental health care can also help some patients avoid admission to the inpatient unit.
Mr. Lambert added, “The center will have a regional focus and will provide services to senior adults throughout north central Arkansas. There are many more seniors living in the rural counties that surround Conway who are without these types of mental health services. Extending our reach outside Conway is clearly the right thing to do.” He said the staff will work with area physicians and clinics to obtain referrals for mental health services.
According to the 2000 US Census, about 9.5 percent of the population of Faulkner County is 65 years of age and older. The percentage of senior adults increases considerably outside of Faulkner County:
• Van Buren County, 23.3 percent
• Cleburne County, 21.1 percent
• Conway County, 16 percent
• Perry County, 14.8 percent
The services of the Conway Regional Senior Evaluation & Counseling Center are covered by Medicare and many private insurance plans. For questions concerning eligibility, referrals and other issues, call 932-0480.