Hi Jim--
I just read your comment about a program in Minnesota where Alzheimer's patients, instead of being drugged in a psych ward, are helped with behavior modification.

Please tell us more! This sounds like heaven (or maybe Canada?)

Your comments on the forum are always so heart-true and helpful.

While this is not directed at me, I would like to point you in a direction, while you wait your answer.

If you go to the "FIND" box above, click on "ADVANCED SEARCH".

Then, in the "EXACT PHRASE" box, put "BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION".

Finally, go to the "AUTHOR NAME" box, and put "JIM BROEDE".

You will see many mentions of this program. You may check your area hospitals, as they will probably offer similar services. I do think you will find that most(not all) still need medication intervention.

I also believe this was a "psych ward".

You may also want to search for "psych ward" in the FIND box, for more past experiences.

In the program in Minnesota, bright wings, they try to start the patient with a clean slate. Completely reevaluate every drug they've been on. And look at alternatives to drugs. And maybe other more effective drugs. A combination of things. I learned a little bit about good vibes therapy from the folks that run the programs, too. Sometimes, just the way we deal with the patient makes a difference. A slight change in the environment. The way one talks to a patient. These programs are staffed by all sorts of people who are specialists at behavior modification. The patients are involved in many kinds of behavior modification activities daily. Some patients are there for only a few days. Others for up to 30 days. Whatever works. You might want to contact Bethesda Rehab Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. My Jeanne attended a program there for 30 days. I was allowed to visit Jeanne after 2 p.m. daily. And I consulted with the staff. And learned lots. And it helped me deal with Jeanne in a better way. Made me a better care-giver. Really, it got me on the track to good vibes therapy. How we care-givers deal with our patients can make a big difference. In their behavior. Maybe not always. But often it's very effective. Jeanne, by the way, got weaned off of some of her drugs over a period of time. She got completely off of depakote, for instance. --Jim

Jim--your description of Bethesda Rehab makes it sound like a caring and thoughtful place.

I have always thought of the hospitals where folks go to have meds regulated as scary places where patients tend to be overmedicated.

Instead, the Minnesota Rehab sounds like something truly helpful --to family and the patient..

I wonder if other people have had positive experiences with this sort of place??

Here is a site for Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. They seem to have an extensive neurology dept:
http://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/

here's another I found, but farther away:
Genesis Rehab Services
200 Brickstone Square, 3rd Floor
Andover, MA 01810
1-800-804-4494

Serves: Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

Maebee, thanks for the information.

I'm not needing a place now (Alas, I needed one for my aunt six years ago).

This board seems to get many posts from caregivers whose LO's are so heavily drugged-- that I want to know more about institutions that take more creative, multi-dimensional approaches.


Though there are many wonderful neurology departments in Boston, I don't think there is any equivalent ot the type of program Jim Broede describes--one that combines so much behavioral wisdom with med adjustments.

I looked at Bethesda Rehab's web site and they seem to have a more holistic approach than most geri-psych units I've heard of.