The Chelsea at East Brunswick’s Crossings Program was recognized as a Best of the Best Program to Watch for good reason. The extended recovery program provides a valuable service to an underserved population: seniors with a mental illness.
Here’s a program that specializes in crossing an all-too-common divide, leading the way for how other providers might successfully do the same. Crossings serves seniors who need assisted living but would not be accepted by most communities because of a challenging psychiatric diagnosis.
Chelsea started the program in 2001 after realizing that many seniors with a psychiatric diagnosis were being inappropriately placed in dementia units, while traditional assisted living programs were not set up to provide the extra layer of mental health services they require. “This came about as a result of seeing a need,” says Kathy Pietrocola, executive director of The Chelsea at East Brunswick.
At any given time, Crossings provides assisted living and mental health services to 18 to 20 residents whose diagnoses have ranged from clinical depression to schizophrenia. The key to its success, says Pietrocola, is that it is a dedicated program directed by a registered nurse with 25 years of psychiatric experience and training, a psychiatrist who oversees medication management biweekly with more than 25 years of experience in geriatric psychiatry, a psychologist and an LSW who provide weekly therapy for individuals and groups, and a specially trained staff. The latter includes an activity director who challenges participants to come out of their comfort zone and try new experiences. The program is carefully marketed and residents are screened; participants generally find Crossings through a professional referral or word of mouth.
The Chelsea program merits attention not only for serving an underserved population but also for helping to lessen the stigma associated with mental illness. While Crossings residents have their own dining room, they also live side by side with other assisted living residents on the third floor. A monthly social on the third floor has encouraged integration. “So many of our Crossings residents are well educated and well traveled. They add so much to our community,” says Pietrocola.
Nearly 140 seniors with mental illness have been helped through this extended recovery program. About a third of participants have done so well that they have been able to transition either to regular assisted living or to a personal residence. “We’ve given these people a second chance,” says Pietrocola.
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