BUCKHANNON – St. Joseph’s Hospital has officially launched a new program aimed at helping senior citizens through tough transitions, depression and anxiety.
The hospital invited the community to a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, March 10, to mark the program’s launch. Taylor Matlick, program director for Senior Life Solutions, said anyone 65 and older is welcome to drop by the office at 102 Pallottine Drive to see if the program is right for them.
“We’re here 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We focus mainly on group therapy for senior citizens, 65 and older, or anybody who might be disabled and has similar issues as someone who’s a senior,” Matlick said. “We can see patients as little as once a week for one session, or as much as three times a week, which a lot of people tend to do. They come three times a week in a group setting. We focus on depression, anxiety and coping skills. We like to connect with our seniors. We help them focus on the things they can fix and then work through the things they can’t.”
Senior Life Solutions offers group, individualized, family and telehealth therapy.
“We also have weekly nursing groups, so we can educate on different disease processes, whether that be hypertension, diabetes, hydration — anything they might need like that — but we also have a psychiatrist for medication management as well,” Matlick said. “One of the good things about this program is that they don’t need a referral. You could refer yourself, or your doctor could refer you.”
If someone is found not to be a good fit for the program, they will be given resources to help find a different program or something that better fits their needs.
“If someone were having struggles with mobility, and they had to move into an assisted living facility and were struggling with getting out — maybe they were isolated — we could get them out and help them work on their coping skills,” Matlick said. “We also connect them with each other and work on getting through the symptoms.”
Matlick previously worked in elderly home health and at school-based clinics.
“We saw our first patient Dec. 31, 2025, so 2026 is going to be our year of growth,” Matlick said. “We’re super excited to break the stigma of mental health in older adults, and we’re excited to help Buckhannon.”
