Compassion in Action
Inside Fairchild’s New Senior Life Solutions program…
According to the National Council on Aging, nearly a quarter of adults age 65 and older are living with mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. “As we get older, there’s often less family support. Maybe someone is widowed, or there’s just less social support overall,” explains Karmen Bleich, Program Director for Senior Life Solutions, a newer program in Yreka designed to meet the unique needs of this demographic. “In our community, there’s a large population of seniors, so there’s a huge need for services of all kinds, but more specifically, mental health services.”
This necessity prompted Fairchild Medical Center to offer something new. “Senior Life Solutions is an outpatient program designed to meet the needs of older adults experiencing the mental health challenges that come with aging. Such examples could be isolation, living alone or having limited support. It could be financial strain, the emotional effects of a pet passing, being widowed or managing chronic illness. And those are just some of the things people struggle with. The program is designed to give these seniors some support and structure in a group setting, as well as opportunities for individualized therapy.”
Bleich says that if an individual’s needs can’t be met by the program, the Senior Life Solutions team can still be of service. “Part of our role is to help patients navigate their challenges. We won’t do things for them, but we can assist and direct them to the community resources that are available.”
Participation is entirely up to the patient, who has the ability to attend group therapy up to three times a week. “Our therapist Monica Cooley, who is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, leads the group. Each day typically follows a theme like gratitude or managing emotions. Then, either Annie Vulyak, who is our office patient coordinator, or myself will also facilitate a group session. We’ve done things like gratitude boards and painting acorns. It all happens during group times, but sometimes those types of activities can help people open up and express themselves even more.”
Bleich’s passion for the program is based on a lifetime of service. “My background is in education and nursing, and I’ve always loved to facilitate growth in those around me. When I was a nurse working bedside, if someone was really sick and defeated, I would be there to encourage them. If they turned in bed, I would celebrate the win, acknowledging that they’d just turned in bed and were gaining some strength back. So, working in this setting, I see growth happening all the time with these seniors, and that is incredibly rewarding. There are folks that desperately need this support, and the fact that we as a team can provide that is really amazing work.”
Bleich has also seen the benefits have a ripple effect. “Mental health and the body are connected. When patients are getting support and structure and learning skills, they also learn to advocate for themselves. The program can be a motivator too, giving someone a reason to get up and get ready for the day. It’s a special thing to see the change when someone starts the program, and they’re not putting a lot of effort into those things. But as they get invested in the program, and they show up, they start taking extra care for themselves. We’ve had several members who have even started showing up in a special outfit or a special shirt.”
Bleich also notes more tangible benefits. “Because many of our patients are managing chronic medical conditions, we can help with medication management and monitoring. Many of them come multiple times a week, so we are in tune with when a patient says something like they’re starting to feel a little sick. That means that we can catch things early on and encourage them to advocate for themselves. That kind of early intervention can help prevent something like a urinary tract infection becoming something far more significant with much higher consequences.”
Six months in, the program is finding immense success. “We took our first patient in July 2025, so we’re a brand-new program. But so far, we just want express our appreciation to the community for the support we’ve had.” Bleich also encourages anyone to reach out, whether it be a prospective patient or someone who wants to refer a patient. “Mental health has long been a taboo topic for all populations. Certainly when it comes to seniors, it’s not often talked about. So, when I have a patient that calls, I always give them recognition for just reaching out in the first place. That alone takes effort. Then, we as a team get to focus on meeting the patients where they’re at. Sometimes it takes multiple phone calls and speaking to patients before they’re ready to walk through the door. But part of our job is to just keep the conversation going, letting them know that we’re always here as a resource, and we’re not going anywhere. So, I like to say, ‘when you’re ready, join us.’”•
Senior Life Solutions
www.fairchildmed.org/services/senior-life-solutions
