CCH to open geriatric psych wing

June 28, 2012 at 6:00 a.m. | Updated June 28, 2012 at 6:00 a.m.

Callaway Community Hospital staff and Chamber of Commerce Kingdom Ambassadors ceremonially cut the ribbon at the entry of the new Kingdom Senior Solutions. The new geriatric psychiatry ward will provide inpatient services to senior citizens with mental health issues.
Callaway Community Hospital staff and Chamber of Commerce Kingdom Ambassadors ceremonially cut the ribbon at the entry of the new Kingdom Senior Solutions. The new geriatric psychiatry ward will provide inpatient services to senior citizens with mental health issues.

Senior citizens living with mental health issues in Callaway County will soon be able to take advantage of new inpatient services through Callaway Community Hospital June 30.

The hospital is opening Kingdom Senior Solutions, a new 19-bed inpatient program unique to the region that will assist elderly patients "who are experiencing behavioral problems related to the normal aging process," according to Chief Executive Officer Allen AufderHeide.

AufderHeide said the program was instituted to meet the rising demand from senior citizens with mental health issues.

"Analysis shows a significant rise in these types of patients over 60," said AufderHeide. "Patients suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's and depression have really been on the increase, and there's very few facilities in the area for that."

AufderHeide said the closest similar facility was in Moberly, and he anticipated Kingdom Senior Solutions would draw patients from neighboring counties.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.