Options provides services to nursing home residents who are unable to come to the center for treatment. In most cases, they would not receive help if we were not onsite at the local nursing home.

We provide services directly to the residents and their families, and work with the nursing home staff to better equip them to assist residents who suffer from a mental illness.

• Reside in one of the nursing homes in Morgan, Limestone, or Lawrence county

• Have a diagnosable mental illness as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders

• Willing to participate in therapy sessions

• Able to communicate well enough to express self

• Score above 10 on the Mini-Mental State Examination, which indicates no more than a moderate level of dementia

Options provides a wide range of mental health services:

Summerford Nursing Home

Kay Sparkman

P.O. Box 4087  Falkville, AL 35622

256-784-5275

Falkville Health & Rehabilitation

Sheila Thompson

P.O. Box 409  Falkville, AL 35622

256-784-5291

Decatur Health & Rehabilitation Center

Doris Harris

P.O. Box 1821  Decatur, AL 35601

256-340-5765

Sunbridge Care & Rehabilitation Center

Emily Overbe

1350 14th Ave  Decatur, AL 35601

256-355-6911

Limestone Health Facility

Edie Belue

1600 West Hobbs  Athens, AL 35611

256-232-3461

Athens Convalescent Center

Sara Wallace/ Tammy Black

611 West  Market St  Athens, AL 35611

256-232-3461

NHC Health Care
Amanda Green
P.O. 339  Moulton, AL 35650

256-974-1146

Options utilizes two levels of staff to provide service: Master level clinicians and Bachelor level technicians.

The Master level staff have received a Masters Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or other related field.  In addition, each has completed a specialized training course which prepares them to work with elderly clients who are experiencing difficulties related to their mental health.

The Bachelor level staff have completed a four year degree in a human services related field.  Each Technician also completes the specialized training course provided by the Mental Health Center.

Options program receives feedback and advice regarding geriatric issues from our Geriatric Advisory Council (GAC).  The GAC is made up of professionals and knowledgeable community representatives who are interested in geriatric issues. GAC meets quarterly. 

For more information call Heather Stone at (256) 260-7334.

Following is a list of the criteria seen in a person with depression:

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report or observation made by others
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day
• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly nearly day
• insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
• psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day
• fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
• feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day
• diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
• recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a plan, or suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide

Dementia - a global decline in intellectual abilities of sufficient severity to interfere with occupational and social functioning.  This occurs in clear consciousness.

There are many causes for dementia--stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington Disease, etc.  Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause.  So common, that the words "dementia" and "AD" are often used interchangeably.

AD starts gradually and gets more severe over time, often several years.  Below is a list of common symptoms:

• Amnesia (memory) - Difficulty registering new memories and recalling them

• Aphasia (language) - Difficulty communicating to others and understanding what is being said to them

• Apraxia (doing things) - Difficulty directing the body to perform tasks, i.e. combing hair or putting on clothes

• Agnosia (recognizing the world) -  Difficulty recognizing common objects, sounds, or sensations

For more information on dementia, visit The Alabama Bureau of Geriatric Psychiatry's Dementia Education web site at http://www.alzbrain.org