Some area hospitals are evolving to adapt to the aging population.
St. John’s Hospital CEO Dr. Charles Lucore says rather than treating a broad specturm of mental health clients, the hospital is now focusing on treating elderly patients suffering from mental illness who need more specialized care.
“There has not been this focus on geriatric psych so we decided that would the niche we fill in the region,” says Lucore. “Other area hospitals have more beds to focus on treating younger patients.”
The geriatric psychiatry ward can currently care for fifteen patients and Lucore says he hopes to expand the number of beds. St. John’s is working with the SIU School of Medicine to hire additional health professionals who specialize in the field of geriatrics.