At Vantage Point, in Fayetteville, AR, we strive to meet the individual needs of every patient who walks through our doors. For over 35 years we have successfully served children, adolescents, adults, and seniors at our center suffering from dementia.
Learn More About Dementia Treatment
Learn more about dementia treatment at Vantage Point Behavioral Health Hospital Fayetteville, AR
Dementia is a term used to describe a collection of problems that individuals with various underlying brain disorders or damage may experience with their memory, language, and thinking. There are many different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and Huntington’s disease. Dementia tends to start out slowly and progressively gets worse over time, eventually becoming so severe that it inhibits a person’s ability to function on a daily basis. While most forms of dementia are incurable, they can be managed with proper treatment at a mental health center.
Vantage Point in Fayetteville, AR understands how upsetting and scary it can be to learn that you have dementia. The compassionate staff at Vantage Point understands the roller coaster of emotions you must be struggling with and we are ready to help you work through this difficult time. We can work together to get you an appropriate treatment plan at our center that will meet all of your needs and get some of your symptoms under control so that you can enhance your overall quality of life.
How to Help a Loved One
Helping a loved one get treatment for dementia
When you learn that your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, you are likely experiencing anger, frustration, sadness, and feeling overwhelmed. At first you may be at a loss for what you can do to help your loved one as they are most likely experiencing some of the same emotions. The good news is that there are some things you can do to help your loved one handle their dementia and remain as independent as long as possible, including:
- Establish a routine
- Write down important dates and times
- Assist them with medications
- Prepare meals ahead of time
- Help them pay their bills
- Keep positive attitude
Being diagnosed with dementia is going to be tough for the individual and his or her loved ones. By using some of the tips listed above you can help your loved one remain independent for as long as possible. There are other things you need to do to be prepared to be the best possible caregiver you can be. Here are some tips to help you be prepared:
- Make the most of doctor visits
- Learn all that you can about dementia
- Get proper screenings to determine stage of the disease and most appropriate levels of treatment
- Establish legal and financial documents that need to be prepared before disease progresses
- Learn to determine when and if facility placement is the best choice
In some instances, it may be most beneficial for your loved one to enter an inpatient mental health treatment center where they can get the symptoms of their disorder under control. If this is the case, take the time to research treatment centers and find one that you and your loved one are comfortable with. Additionally, assure your loved one that you will be there to support them throughout the entire process.
Why Consider Treatment
Why consider treatment for dementia at Vantage Point Behavioral Health Hospital Fayetteville, AR
If you have been diagnosed with dementia, you have likely begun to notice that you are not able to remember things as well as you used to and that your concentration is lacking. Additionally, people with dementia may repeat questions, be unable to follow directions, have difficulties with daily tasks, and may get disoriented about the date and time. Recent research suggests that certain good health habits and mental stimulation may be able to delay the onset. While many forms of dementia do not have a cure, there are certain kinds that can be treated and reversed if caught in time – this is why it is extremely important to seek help from medical professionals at a mental health center.
An inpatient program at a mental health center can provide your loved one with the safety and security they need while they learn to cope with their dementia symptoms. Inpatient treatment is very helpful for those who have been diagnosed with dementia as it helps them to get their medications adjusted to be most effective, while providing them with a number of therapeutic processes to help them return to their highest level of functioning. Additionally, an inpatient mental health treatment center can help loved ones and family members work together to determine the next appropriate best step for their loved one.
Our Philosophy
Vantage Point Behavioral Health Hospital philosophy and treatment benefits
At Vantage Point, located in Fayetteville, AR, we provide individualized care in a warm, supportive atmosphere specifically designed to return you or your loved one to his or her highest level of cognitive and emotional functioning. We are dedicated to providing each one of our center’s clients with confidential care in a loving environment designed to promote crisis resolution, positive self-awareness, and personal growth. Our center’s highly qualified staff provides mental health care 24 hours a day to help ensure the safety of each and every client in our programs. Through all of our programs, our main goal is to stabilize patients so they can return to their community as quickly as possible.
Types of Treatment
Types of dementia treatment offered at Vantage Point Behavioral Health Hospital Fayetteville, AR
When you come to Vantage Point for dementia treatment, you will first undergo a comprehensive evaluation process so we can best determine how to help you. The results of your evaluations will used by your treatment team to sit down with you and your loved ones to create an individualized plan of care for your stay at our center. We will make sure to provide many types of therapies all aimed to fit your unique level of functioning and discover ways in which we can help support you and your family during this challenging time. Treatment for dementia is conducted under the medical direction and supervision of our center’s psychiatrists and administered by our wonderful nurses, social workers, therapists, recreational specialists, special education teachers, and other mental health professionals. Some of the therapeutic methods we use to treat dementia at our center include:
Medications may be used to help alleviate some of the symptoms of dementia, which will allow you to maintain comfort and dignity for as long as possible. We will take the time to evaluate your existing medications at our center to ensure they are working effectively and not causing any adverse medication reactions.
Individual therapy can help you better understand the progression of dementia, your specific form of dementia, and how to process your emotions. Additionally, your therapist can help you make plans for your future and discuss strategies you can use to help with some of the symptoms you’re facing.
Group therapy can be very helpful for people who have dementia as it allows you the chance to interact with others who are struggling with memory loss and other related disorders. Group topics at our center may include importance of medication management, coping with frustration, and processing the feelings about a terminal diagnosis. Groups are a good time for those who may have become socially isolated due to dementia to practice newly learned social skills.
Family therapy is the cornerstone of treatment for people who have dementia as family members often become caregivers when you are unable to live independently. Through family therapy at our mental health center, you will discuss plans for the future, help all involved process their emotions, and learn more about the idea of long-term placement when symptoms become too severe.
Vantage Point include therapies designed to complement traditional approaches for dementia treatment. These experiential methods include:
- Recreation
- Expressive therapy
Continuing Care
Continuing care and levels of treatment for dementia
The discharge planning process for each patient at our mental health center begins as soon as they are admitted for dementia care to ensure that when they are ready to leave the inpatient program a plan is ready to be put in place. Before you leave our inpatient center, you will meet with one of our care coordinators who will be able to provide each patient with a number of outpatient treatment options so that they can determine the next best step for continued mental health care.
Some may feel that a long-term placement in an assisted living facility or skilled nursing facility is most appropriate and we will do our best to make appropriate referrals. Others may feel that our Senior Expressions program is best. This is our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) that allows you to focus upon your treatment during the day while returning home in the evenings. Our IOP provides transportation to and from the program, a nutritious meal, and operates up to five days per week for three hours each day. Other people may feel that they are ready to return home with their loved ones with follow-up care provided by their primary care physician.