Heritage Program for Senior Adults 

Mental health disorders affect at least 20% of individuals age 55 or older. The risk for depression is four times greater than that of the general population. Due to the presence of other medical conditions, depression and other mental disorders often go undiagnosed in older patients. This is why Huntsville Memorial Hospital has developed the Heritage Program for Senior Adults. The Heritage program is an outpatient counseling program that provides individualized treatment for older adults who suffer from psychiatric, emotional or behavioral disorders. 

The elderly have unique concerns that can often lead to depression and mental health issues, such as:

• Physical health decline
• Loss of independence
• Safety concerns
• Multiple losses

The Heritage program addresses these concerns with multiple services, such as:

• Group, family and individual therapy
• Coping and positive living skills
• Grief and loss resolution
• Medication management education
• Health and wellness training
• Communication and conflict resolution skills
• Stress management
• Assertiveness training

The philosophy of the Heritage program is:

• To provide quality care that stresses the importance of dignity, respect and confidentiality
• To help patients achieve optimum mental and physical health
• To alleviate symptoms that may interfere with a patient’s ability to function
• To support the integrity of the patient’s family
• To maximize the patient’s independence

Transportation to the Heritage program may be available within a 35-mile radius of the hospital. There is a fee for the Heritage program, but Medicare and most private insurance carriers are accepted.

To learn more about the Heritage program, call Huntsville Memorial Hospital at (936) 435-2200.