Information for Patients and Families
The Senior Adult Mental Health Unit (SAMHU) provides inpatient psychiatric treatment for people age 55 and older. The 18-bed unit is located within St. Joseph Hospital and is dedicated to helping patients heal physically and psychologically from mental illness and/or behavioral changes. Features include:
- Secured Unit for Patient Safety
- Alzheimer's and Dementia Support Group for Caregivers
- Memory Evaluation Clinic
- Social Services
- Discharge Planning
- Pastoral Care Services
- Therapeutic Programming (music, sensory, movement, relaxation, and memory)
- Direct Access to Ancillary Hospital Services
When admitting patients to the unit, we want to make the transition as easy as possible for everyone. The following information will help.
SAMHU will dispense only medications ordered by a St. Joseph Hospital physician. Patients who arrive with any medications will be asked to check them in with one of our nurses for storage until discharge.
Patients should leave all valuables such as jewelry, credit cards, checks, or cash at home, or check them in with one of our nurses upon arrival. The hospital cannot be responsible for lost or missing items.
Please call the unit for patient gift guidelines.
Friends and family are an integral part of recovery. Only visitors who have permission from the patient or a designated family member may be allowed on the unit or to receive information about care. Authorized persons may call the nurses' station anytime for updates. A nurse can provide the appropriate visitor and information release forms.
There are no telephones in patient rooms; however, there is a portable phone available for patient use.