> Main News Page

Senior Life Solutions Mental Health Month - 2009-05-19

May is Mental Health Month and is sponsored by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (NCCBH).  In line with this year’s 2009 Mental Health Campaign, Fairfield Memorial Hospital would like to encourage everyone to “Live Your Life Well.” The “Live Your Life Well” national campaign goal is to provide education and interventions to combat stress and promote health and well-being. The interventions include: connecting with others, staying positive, be physically active, helping others, getting enough sleep, creating joy and satisfaction, eating well, and taking care of your spirit. For more information about these interventions you can visit www.liveyourlifewell.org.  By using these interventions one can better deal with hard times and get professional help if you need it.  

Fairfield Memorial Hospital’s Senior Life Solutions program uses these skills daily in an atmosphere that is warm and receptive.  Senior Life Solutions is a confidential place where change occurs with the assistance of staff providing therapeutic interventions.  These interventions are explored during group discussions of life challenges and transitions leading to healthy ways to cope in the present and future.  There are three therapy groups a day along with a nursing group in which education is provided on medication management, disease processes and mind/body connections.  Each Client has the ability to teach and learn from others thus creating a bond and essentially their own support group. The program treatment lasts for 6-12 weeks (2-4 days per week), and provides follow-up care after discharge. Individuals who have graduated from the program attend a monthly alumni meeting where each client has the opportunity to share their experiences and triumphs.  The program is unique for this region and serves the communities in Wayne, White, Edwards, Clay, Richland, Jefferson, and Hamilton counties.

Good mental health is fundamental to overall health and is essential to personal well-being and the ability to lead a healthy, balanced, and productive life. Mental health problems can impair a person's thinking, feelings, and behavior and can be serious and disabling. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's report on mental health, more than half of all Americans with a severe mental illness fail to seek treatment. Many people do not receive treatment for mental health problems due to a lack of awareness of the problem, fear of stigma, or lack of access to appropriate services. Yet, overall quality of life is greatly improved when a person with a mental health problem gets an early diagnosis and receives appropriate treatment. Remember, if you’d like to discover how to handle life’s challenges, keep your body strong and enjoy life once again, call FMH Senior Life Solutions at 618-847-8298. 

There are also numerous staff members who strive daily to ensure that the clients in Senior Life Solutions live their lives to the fullest!  Each staff member has a special place in their hearts for the clients they treat.  The FMH Senior Life Solutions Team is multi-disciplinary in design to ensure the best quality patient care possible.  The team includes a Psychiatrist, Program Director, Program Nurse, Primary Therapist, Unit Clerk, the patient, family member(s) and the Primary Care Physician.  

 

Psychiatrist

Radha Tatineni, MD, provides clients with psychiatric evaluations and consultations along with monitoring medications and symptom reduction.  Dr. Tatineni attended Guntur Medical College in Guntur, AP India, and went through residency at The Chicago Medical School.  She is also Board Certified through the American Board of Psychiatry specializing in Psychiatry since 1991, and Geriatric Psychiatry since 1995.  Dr. Tatineni’s experience in Geriatric Psychiatry allows her to be well versed in the specific mental health needs of the Senior Life Solutions clients. 

 

Program Director

Deb Middleton, has been a registered nurse for 31 years with 11 years in the field of behavioral medicine.  She is also currently seeking her BSN from McKendree University and is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.  Ms. Middleton has served as Senior Life Solutions’ Program Director since its opening in December of 2006.

 

“I find great joy and fulfillment in working with the geriatric population. Each of our clients has made their way thru very hard times and currently gives much to society.  It is our duty to their generation to reinforce how special and important they are as they still have so much to give. I really enjoy helping them fight to stay physically and mentally healthy and to recognize their strengths.  In return I am blessed with a smile and sometimes a hug, which means so much,” stated Middleton.

 

Program Nurse

Susie Devoy has been a registered nurse for ten years with experience in the geriatric population and behavioral health.

 

“When I learned what Senior Life Solutions was all about, I wanted to be part of it.  I love working with the geriatric population and this was an opportunity to work more one on one and get to know the senior adults from this community.  To see an individual come into our program feeling sad and lonely and leave with goals and a smile on their face makes my work seem more like an opportunity than a job,” stated Devoy

 

Primary Therapist

Judy Wissel, Therapist has worked in the Behavioral Health field for over 18 years and holds a Certification as a National Certified Counselor and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois. 

 

“I have worked with every age group of individual and find the geriatric population the most rewarding.  Our senior adults are the diamonds that life has polished and refined.  It is a joy and a blessing to work with them.  My hope is that through Senior Life Solutions, they can get back their “sparkle” and enjoy their lives to the fullest,” stated Wissel.

                                                 

CNA/Unit Clerk

Debbie Bunting has worked for FMH for 11 years and has been working at Senior Life Solutions since its opening in 2006.  She has a background in Long-Term Care and is a Certified Physical Rehabilitation Aide.

 

“I have been honored to work in the geriatric field for many years.  I enjoy seeing people from all walks of life regain their independence and decision making.  Our clients grow, feel better and take pride in their life again.  The geriatric generation has given much to create the wonderful world that we have today, and I am honored to give back whatever I can to improve their lives.  Senior Life Solutions helps me give something back and help provide whole healing of the body-mind-spirit of our clients,” stated Bunting

Pictured is the Senior Life Solutions Team: Dr. Tatineni (sitting), Judy Wissel, Deb Middleton, Suzie Devoy, and Debbie Bunting.