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The Stepping Stones Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital is designed to diagnose and treat complex problems in older adults. In our program, each patient has a treatment team of medical and clinical professionals. These professionals work together to pinpoint the nature of the problems and help the patients and their families begin the recovery process.

Our treatment philosophy and goal is to maintain and improve each patient's quality of life and enhance the patient's self respect and dignity. Consistent with our holistic treatment philosophy, equal emphasis is placed on the healing of mind, body and spirit. We place great value on family involvement in the treatment process. Participation in community support groups is also encouraged.

Program Content 

In group and individual sessions, the program focuses on the stressful issues associated with aging, such as grief, loneliness, coping with illness or physical disability, changing roles and status, death and dying and conflicts with adult children.

The program includes:

• Comprehensive medical and psychological evaluation
• Individualized treatment plan
• Individual, group and family therapy
• Family participation, including education and therapy
• Coping and life skills training
• Activity therapy groups
• Therapeutic exercise/stress reduction
• Pastoral counseling
• Medical management/education
• Individualized continuing care plan for discharged patients and their families

• Depression
• Marked personality changes
• Numerous unexplained physical ailments or changes in eating and sleeping patterns
• Confused thinking, inability to concentrate and/or memory loss
• Excessive fears, anxieties or suspiciousness
• Withdrawal from family, friends and others
• Growing inability to cope with daily living, resulting in unsafe behaviors
• Hallucinations, hearing voices

1. Call the Stepping Stones Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit for Seniors at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital at 260-5225, and explain that you would like to make a referral. You will be asked for:
• Your name, title, organization, address and telephone number, your relationship to the patient, who will accompany the patient to the unit and the date and time the patient will arrive;
• The patient's name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, insurance information;
• A brief description of the patient's symptoms and behaviors;
• Patient's medical status, present medications, family or work problems and advanced directives if applicable.
  
2. The program director will review and verify the patient information and notification of confirmation will be given promptly.
3. Secure a release of any information and/or documentation relevant to the patient's treatment prior to admission and forward it to the unit as quickly as possible.
4. Report any emotional and/or physical state which requires special care so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

1. Three days worth of clothes and necessary toiletries
2. Insurance cards and numbers
3. Home medications
4. A wheelchair, walker or cane, if needed
5. A small amount of money for personal use
6. A supply of cigarettes for use during designated smoking breaks (smoking is not allowed in the unit; there are two outside designated patient and visitor smoking areas) 

1. Razors, hair dryers or irons (these items will be provided)
2. Hair spray, glass, sharp objects, weapons or food from the outside
3. Alcohol or drugs

1. All parcels and gifts must be checked at the nurses' station
2. You cannot bring food or drinks into the unit
3. Flowers must be in plastic containers with no wires