For those who struggling with life changes, sadness or isolation as they age, a local program offers mental health services aimed specifically at seniors 65 and older.

Lourdes Health Senior Life Solutions was first established in Pasco in 2023 through Psychiatric Medical Care. It’s an outpatient mental health program aimed at rural communities by partnering with critical access hospitals, with more than 150 locations across the U.S.

Staffed by three people plus a remote psychiatrist, the program is headquartered at 516 W. Margaret St., Suite 7, Pasco, just behind Lourdes Medical Center. Senior Life Solutions provides group therapy up to three times a week for seniors, as well as individual and family therapy, medication management and psychoeducation.

The program can support up to 10 patients in group therapy at one time, though there is some flexibility to take on more patients based on scheduling.

Though some patients may not initially be on board with the idea of talking through problems with a group of people, Tanya Van Ham, program therapist, said group therapy proves to be good for seniors, and patients end up with a sense of belonging.

“We have a really safe, supportive environment here, very compassionate environment, where people feel comfortable talking about things that maybe they normally wouldn’t,” Van Ham said.  

Joining the program

Senior Life Solutions can help seniors dealing with depression and anxiety because of various life changes as they age. Seniors can self-refer or doctors can refer them to the program.

Seniors should pay attention to whether something has come up in their day-to-day life that is negatively impacting them. If they’re isolating themselves, feeling down, or having feelings of sadness or loneliness, they can reach out to Senior Life Solutions, Van Ham said.

Life events, like a new health diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, or moving to a new place also can affect mental health.

Seniors can reach out to the program at 509-416-8811 to schedule an intake or ask questions. Patients joining the program start with a comprehensive assessment to see if Senior Life Solutions is right for them.  

If they meet the requirements, getting into Senior Life Solutions can be quicker than other mental health services, Van Ham said. 

Staff will also discuss payment options with the patient. While Senior Life Solutions accepts all insurances, not all insurances cover the program.

“We figure that out just like you would in a doctor’s office beforehand, so there’s no surprise costs or anything like that,” Van Ham said. 

The program also accepts Medicare.  

Graduation and growth

Patients may stay in the program different lengths of time, from weeks to months, depending on their needs. 

Van Ham said they work with patients on one or two goals at a time, and they are constantly communicating about what discharge – or “graduation,” as the staff call it – looks like for that patient. 

Once the goals are met, a patient will graduate and get the chance to hang up a butterfly on  a special wall at the office, emblematic of their transformation. 

But the program doesn’t stop once a patient is discharged. Patients continue to participate in after-care meetings quarterly to check in, and staff can provide them with other resources. 

For Van Ham, it’s rewarding to see the patients’ growth. Many come in with little knowledge about mental health, and “it’s such a great thing for them to have that information presented and to know that they aren’t alone and that there are … tools and ways to manage those emotions and those feelings,” she said. “Just seeing the growth in them is, it’s amazing.”

Senior Life Solutions: yourlourdes.com/senior-life-solutions.