“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.
It’s the life in your years.”
Abraham Lincoln

Every day of life should be lived fully. But the changes that come with aging can be challenging, making it difficult to enjoy life – not only for those who are growing older, but also for those charged with their care. At Generations, we are committed to helping families cope with the behavioral and emotional challenges of aging. 

The physical challenges of aging can be daunting. Joints ache. Sleep becomes irregular. And the odds of developing cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, dementia ...all increase exponentially. Medications and trips to the doctor’s office become a focal point of life. As Art Linkletter once said, “Old age isn’t for sissies.” For some, the reality of coping with these challenges becomes overwhelming. Anxiety, depression, anger, frustration, confusion and memory loss are all too common. 

Medications help extend and improve the quality of life for most seniors – but sometimes they are the culprit behind changes in behavior. Too much medication and/or drug interactions can cause a host of emotional and behavioral problems. With accurate diagnosis and medication adjustments, these problems can often be reduced or even reversed. 

Drug and alcohol abuse are also common in seniors looking for relief from pain, either physical or emotional. 

Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia affect an increasing number of seniors. Early diagnosis and treatment can create the most positive results possible for both the senior and the family.

Grief is an integral part of aging. We grieve those who’ve died, we grieve for our loss of youth and vitality, we grieve for the life that once was. Grief is a natural process, but it shouldn’t be a stopping point. With help, seniors learn to grieve for what has been lost and yet appreciate all that is – and is yet to be. 

Anxiety, hallucinations and delusions are frightening for both senior and family alike, and in some cases create significant risks. Getting to the root cause and beginning an appropriate course of treatment can significantly improve quality of life for all involved. 

Major depression can result when it all becomes too much to handle. Shutting down emotionally, withdrawing from family and friends, sleeping through the day – all are signs of major depression that can often be treated successfully. 

Adjustment disorders of aging happen when a seniors’ response to life changes is in excess of what is normally expected. It is natural to expect some depression, for example, when a senior is forced by circumstances to give up a driver’s license or move into an assisted living facility. But when the depression doesn’t lift, or the anger doesn’t subside, professional help may be needed.

INTEGRIS GENERATIONS offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to dealing with the challenges of aging. 

Patient Referral Anyone may make a referral. Most are made by physicians, mental health professionals, members of the clergy, social workers, friends or family. 

Assessment and Admission The initial assessment is confidential and free. It is conducted by a behavioral health specialist and can be done on the phone or at a local health care facility. In-home assessments are available to people living in the Miami area. If deemed to be a candidate, the patient will be admitted to the unit by the Generations staff psychiatrist. Wheelchair accessible transportation can be provided if needed, at no charge.

Professional Support Staff The primary care physician may refer patients directly to the Generations program and can also choose to be a part of the treatment team. The multidisciplinary team includes a full-time psychiatrist, social workers, nurses, physical therapists and representatives of other disciplines as appropriate. 

Physician Relationship Generations is staffed by a full-time psychiatrist. Each patient is assigned a second physician (family doctor or specialist) whose role is to address any medical concerns while the patient is on the unit. 

Family Participation Family members are an important part of the treatment process. Each patient’s social worker will schedule family conferences and discharge planning with the family and the patient. Generally, family sessions are once a week. Family support groups are available on request.

Follow Up Patients discharged to care centers will receive follow-up visits by a Generations representative. The nurse will review current medications under the direction of the psychiatrist, and will also assess the patient’s overall wellbeing. Phone consultations with the practitioner are always available.

Generations Short Term Inpatient Care
Generations can help patients age 65 and older who exhibit

• sudden mental or behavioral changes
• severe depression
• anxiety and/or panic attacks
• loss of interest, irritability, sadness
• behavior that’s a potential danger to self or others
• an inability to cope with stressful situations
• an inability to perform activities of daily living

For a free, confidential screening, call one of
the numbers below 24 hours per day, 7 days per week

INTEGRIS Bass Baptist Health Center
600 S. Monroe, Enid OK
(580) 548-1270

INTEGRIS Baptist Regional Health Center
200 2nd Ave, SW
Miami OK 74354
(918) 542-3391