The Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is an alternative
to a stay in the hospital and offers a step-down

Sometimes life can be overwhelming, especially for seniors facing problems associated with aging. It may not require overnight stay in the hospital, but it can be serious enough that routine counseling won’t solve it.

The Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) bridges the gap between acute inpatient
and outpatient services. It serves both as an alternative to hospitalization and as a transition or step-down from inpatient care.

PHP offers all of the program intensity of acute inpatient care without having to stay in a hospital allowing patients to return home to their family and their community. The program is designed for those ages 50 and older. Individuals may seek treatment themselves or be referred by a family member, physician, residential facility or any caring individual.

PHP is a comprehensive, short-termed outpatient program that provides support and treatment for adults facing emotional or mental difficulties, and who may have substance abuse problems. The program’s supportive group format reduces feelings of isolation and hopelessness as individuals discover that they are not alone in their struggle for emotional and mental wellness.

Who benefits

• A person who seeks an alternative to inpatient treatment
• A person discharged from inpatient behavioral health care who needs additional care to transition from hospital to home
• A person who needs socialization and interaction as a means to look carefully at their own behavior through group interaction and therapy
• A person who would become more and more isolated, causing symptoms to escalate
• A person who needs more concentrated treatment than traditional outpatient treatment

Common Symptoms

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) offers an effective way to help avoid hospitalization and ease the symptoms of depression and other conditions, such as:

• Anxiety and stress
• Grief and loss
• Memory loss
• Early symptoms of dementia
• Bipolar disorder
• Aggression and hostility
• Schizophrenia
• Abuse of medication
• Other emotional, psychological or behavioral disorders

Conditions of aging

• Many residents suffer from chronic mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
• Outpatient treatment can often prevent inpatient stays.
• Hospitalization often disrupts older person’s routines.
• Psychiatrist visits patients, eliminating need for additional psych services contacts.

Goals

The goal of PHP is to help participants understand their current problems and improve their coping skills. It features coordinated, intensive treatment that is more concentrated than traditional outpatient care. The structured format provides medical monitoring plus therapeutic groups and activities.

This is acomplished through a wide range of activities, including:

• Multidisciplinary evaluation
• Group therapy
• Stress management
• Goal setting
• Improving support systems
• Family therapy
• Planning for life after PHP
• Psychiatric evaluation and treatment
• Relaxation skills
• Overcoming negative thoughts
• Developing good sleep habits
• Benefits of medication
• Health nutrition habits