Seniors Mental Health Behavioural Inpatient Program
Program Overview
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) Seniors Mental Health Behavioural Program (SMHBP) located at the West 5th Campus on the Harbour North 1 Unit is the leading regional expert in providing highly specialized care for seniors with behavioural disturbances associated with a diagnosed Major Neurocognitive Disorder (NCD). As an academic teaching healthcare facility SJHH contributes to the development of future healthcare professionals by including them in the circle of care providers.
SMHBP is a 24-bed secure inpatient unit serving patients with dementia and behavioural disturbances that temporarily require intensive care resources until they can be reintegrated back into the community.
We acknowledge the likelihood of disease progression, within both dementia and other chronic health conditions, and their associated losses that may impact the person’s wellbeing as well as the family’s experience. Changes may impact the person in the following areas: physical, intellectual, emotional, functional, and social.
Purpose of Admission
The purpose of admission is to gain an understanding of the combination of physical, environmental, and psychological causes of responsive behaviours. The team will develop a comprehensive treatment plan with the goal of stabilizing behaviours enabling the person to return to community or supported care setting such as long-term care.
Care Team
Our interdisciplinary team includes a range of specialized staff whose focus is on active treatment and management of behavioural symptoms through use of non-pharmacological care strategies in conjunction with pharmacological interventions.
Treatment and Discharge Planning
The purpose of treatment, which includes the use of medications, is to target the causes of responsive behaviours that pose risk to the patient and others, reduce distressing symptoms and ultimately to discharge patients to the most appropriate care setting. Transition destinations may include Long-Term Care, transitional care placement, a less acute behavioural unit, or an alternate care facility while they await long-term care.
When to Refer
SMHBU is the most intensive care program serving this population in the region of Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand and Brant (HNHB). Referrals are made to this program when community-based resources have been exhausted and highly specialized and intensive supports are needed.
Send referrals to:
Fax: 905-381-5657 to the attention of Program Social Worker
Tel: 905-522-1155 Ext. 36208
Click here for the referral form.
Maps & Directions
St. Joseph's West 5th Campus
Seniors Mental Health Behavioural Program
Harbour North Unit
100 West 5th Street
Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7
Click here for directions to the West 5th Campus.
Additional Resources
Alzheimer’s Society serving Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Hamilton, Halton