A new 20-bed Geriatric Psychiatry Unit is now open at East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC), offering a safe and secure environment for older adults experiencing a mental illness such as depression, anxiety, dementia or a mood disorder.
“When we see a need in our community, we make it our priority to meet it head on,” Sarah Nunnelly, Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer, said. “Having a local option for seniors who are facing a mental health condition to receive compassionate, expert care is something we are proud to provide.”
The unit focuses on treating mental health disorders for patients ages 65 and older, and is staffed by board-certified psychiatrists and care professionals specializing in senior behavioral health. In addition, residents of East Alabama Health’s Psychiatry Residency Program attend patients while performing their rotations.
While receiving treatment, patients participate in therapeutic activities and programs designed to encourage healing. Among these activities are group therapy, individualized counseling and support sessions.
This latest expansion of access to mental health care comes nine months after the opening of East Alabama Medical Center North, a 40-bed psychiatry hospital in Opelika which provides inpatient care for adults, children and adolescents.
About East Alabama Health
East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital in Valley, East Alabama Medical Center North in Opelika, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 336-bed regional referral hospital. EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital provides emergency and outpatient services while its campus also features a nursing home and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 4,200 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University.
