Designed as a “caring and sensitive environment,” the Ray of Hope unit at Cottage Hospital addresses behavioral health needs associated with aging. Located on the hospital campus in rural Woodsville, N.H., this 10-bed, short-stay, inpatient mental health unit accepts adults age 65 and older from New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and beyond.
Admission to Ray of Hope is voluntary but requires a referral from a primary care physician.
Ray of Hope was created to fill gaps in behavioral health services for older adults experiencing changes in behavioral or neurological health. The interdisciplinary care team evaluates and diagnoses patients, coordinates services and develops individualized treatment plans. When appropriate, psychiatric medication is prescribed and managed as part of care. The overall focus is helping patients restore inner balance and improve quality of life.
The team at Ray of Hope includes a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed nursing assistants, social workers and recreational therapists. Care is patient centered and holistic, addressing mental, physical and psychosocial well-being. The team also works closely with each patient’s family and support network.
This Cottage Hospital unit has 10 private rooms, a quiet room, an activities room and an outdoor patio. Length of stay varies based on treatment goals and patient progress, with daily scheduled therapies and activities to support an individual’s recovery and function. American Hospital Associationfu.s.