La Paz Geropsychiatric Center sits over in Paramount, CA, right inside Los Angeles County, and it's a mental health care facility that mainly serves adults aged 50 and older who have serious mental illness, so you might find folks there with some pretty specific mental health care needs, and they focus a whole lot on recovery and giving people choices in their own treatment, which some people appreciate when they want something different from the bigger hospitals or acute care places. You'll see the building's got 148 beds for residents, and most people stay about three to six months, give or take, since it's an inpatient, non-acute mental health center, not a short visit kind of spot. They opened up back in 1986, which means they've been running for a while, and they take referrals from the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, the Los Angeles Public Guardians Office, county agencies, private conservators, and even privately conserved residents, because they have contracts with several counties to support admissions.
La Paz makes a point of creating a supportive, tranquil place that's dedicated to mental health treatment just for older adults, and the staff include experienced professionals who know a thing or two about helping elderly folks with psychiatric disorders. Their mental health programs come with medication management, individual and group therapy, clinical care services like dental and vision, and even integrated care for those dealing with both mental health and substance use challenges. They put together customized inpatient treatment plans for every resident, using thorough evaluations, and they'll provide referrals if someone needs additional substance abuse treatment elsewhere, plus they can connect families and clients to different social services and community resources.
For people who enjoy something extra, they've got holistic therapies such as meditation, adventure and outdoor therapy, art and dance therapy, faith-based counseling, and book studies, which some find helpful in recovery. There are psychoeducational programs, family counseling and support, and dedicated learning centers for behavioral health strategies, as well as interactive symptom checkers and a health library with information on medications and medical tests. They run things by the idea that all people can improve and make choices about their care, and you'll find they work together with families, caregivers, county case managers, and other partners to help residents improve functioning, reduce symptoms, and feel safer. Visiting hours run from 10:00 in the morning till 8:00 at night, and many see La Paz as a good option instead of heading to a state hospital.
They accept a wide range of insurance plans including Humana, Ambetter, Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and Aetna, which takes a lot of the worry out of figuring out payments. The environment feels calm, they focus on dignity, and while it isn't fancy, they're known for a compassionate approach because they understand the specific challenges facing older adults with mental illness.
