Teletherapy Services Provide At-Home Care for Seniors Experiencing Depression, Anxiety, or Loneliness

Posted On: Jan 28, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

1/28/2021

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Teletherapy Services PROVIDE At-Home Care for Seniors Experiencing Depression, Anxiety, or Loneliness

Myrtue Medical Center’s Senior Life Solutions is an intensive outpatient group therapy program for seniors. Individuals may benefit from the program if they are experiencing symptoms of age-related depression or anxiety, dealing with difficult life transitions, a recent health diagnosis, or the loss of a loved one. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Myrtue Medical Center immediately started to identify ways to continue to meet with seniors in the community. Myrtue’s Senior Life Solutions began providing services remotely, often called teletherapy, to its patients in April. This allowed their senior patients to receive the care they needed while remaining safe and secure at home.

Teletherapy services are provided via telephone or computer by Melanie Boese, the licensed therapist for Senior Life Solutions. After an initial assessment, Senior Life Solutions individualizes a care plan for each patient where they meet up to three times per week in an encouraging, supportive setting utilizing face to face and/or teletherapy services. “We knew that the pandemic had quickly escalated stress in our community, and finding ways to bring and keep people together was vital. By taking advantage of the technologies available, we have been able to encourage unity and social cohesion against all odds,” said Melanie Boese.

Senior Life Solutions Director, Dave Bauman, said, “Our teletherapy services allow our patients to continue to reap the benefits of group and individual therapy from the safety of their homes. During a group session, we all dial in on the phone or log in from a computer at the same time, and each patient has the opportunity to form a bond and sometimes even friendship with other members in the group who are experiencing similar life changes.”

Baumanadded, “Emotional health services are needed more than ever during these difficult times, and it is wonderful being part of a program that improves the quality of life in our community.” An anonymous member of the Senior Life Solutions group shared, “It isn’t the same as face to face, but I felt very, very supported. I was glad we were able to still be together. For those that aren’t tech-savvy, the staff has been very helpful keeping us all connected.”

Senior Life Solutions staff includes a board-certified psychiatrist, a licensed social worker, and a registered nurse, who are dedicated to the emotional well-being of the seniors in the community. All Senior Life Solutions services are confidential and HIPAA compliant. Referrals to the program can be made by anyone, including self-referrals, a patient’s physician, family members, friends, or any other healthcare professional. For more information, call 712.755.4327.