Our Approach
Covington County Hospital’s Senior Care Unit is dedicated to providing exceptional mental health services to patients aged 55 and above, to improve their quality of life and that of their families. The unit offers short-term inpatient psychiatric care in a peaceful, small-town setting. The hospital employs a team-based approach, which involves educating family members and caregivers to detect and manage crises before they escalate. The unit has 10 beds, and it offers immediate psychiatric care and a road to stabilization and recovery for those undergoing a mental health crisis. The average length of stay is 14 days, but this may vary depending on the patient’s condition and insurance approval. Services offered include individual and group therapies, with emphasis on psychiatric care, activities, and education on medication, skills, and social adjustment. Furthermore, a psychiatrist and pharmacist manage medication for patients.
Referrals
Admission to the Senior Care Unit is through referrals, and the referred individuals must meet our admission criteria. Patients can be referred by concerned family members and professional community members such as physicians, courts, counseling/community agencies, psychologists, etc. Our facility also provides transportation if it is needed.
Our Staff
Kenneth Daughtrey, M.D., is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry. Dr. Daughtrey’s experience includes 28 years as a psychiatrist with the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield. After retirement, he worked with CCH’s Behavioral Health Unit for two years. Most recently, he served patients at the Sojourner’s Unit at Jefferson Davis Community Hospital and spent the last four years in that hospital’s Intensive Outpatient Program. A graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 1986, Dr. Daughtrey’s areas of professional interest include the treatment of adults with mental illness, dementia, and changes in mental status.
Sarah Don Lott, FNP, PMHNP, is a certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in the CCH Senior Care Unit. She manages a wide array of mental health conditions in patients 55 years and older in the 10-bed Senior Care Unit. Her focus is on promoting mental health awareness and helping patients, families, and communities better understand mental health issues.
Jonathan Berry, LMSW, is a social worker who serves at the CCH Senior Care Unit and is a 2022 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi social work program. His previous experience includes working at Brightside Intensive Outpatient Program and Simpson General Hospital as an IOP therapist. His primary expertise is with the older adult population.
What to Bring
The patient should bring toiletries, clothing, and all home medications. No belts or jewelry are allowed, and shoes cannot include shoelaces.
Visitation
The Senior Care Unit is a locked facility. Visitation will be by appointment during unit visitation hours.
External Link
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Lifeline (suicidepreventionlifeline.org)