The GEMS program is designed for patients living with neurocognitive disorders of mild to moderate severity, who reside in the community but cannot stay alone at home due to cognitive decline.
It offers a multidisciplinary approach to combat loneliness, improve cognitive function, preserve autonomy and independence, and manage neuropsychiatric or behavioral symptoms of dementia including depression, anxiety, apathy, etc.
The GEMS program takes place twice a week (on Tuesdays and Thursdays), from 8:30 am till 1 pm, at the outpatient clinics of the department of Psychiatry at AUBMC.
Services We Provide
Participants in the program will benefit from physical therapy, psychotherapy sessions, art therapy, cognitive stimulation activities, and other socially engaging activities such as playing cards, listening to music, singing in groups, watching an old movie etc., all provided in a group setting.
Participants and caregivers will also benefit from one geriatric psychiatry consultation per month, with pharmacological and non-pharmacological recommendations that will be provided.
Caregivers will benefit from psychoeducation sessions regarding how to care for their loved one living with cognitive impairment, and for themselves to avoid burn-out.
Referral Process
Participants can be referred to the program by their primary clinician (neurologist, geriatrician, family doctor, psychiatrist etc.). Caregivers are encouraged to talk to their doctor about it.
Caregivers themselves can also refer their loved ones by contacting our team on the information provided below.
Eligibility
Patients with severe cognitive impairment, incontinent of urine or feces, patients with swallowing difficulties, behavioral disturbances that pose risk to self or others such as suicidal or violent behaviors are not eligible to participate in the program.
Eligibility and admission to the GEMS program will be determined by the director of the program Dr. Rita Khoury or associate director Dr. Marc Barakat. Acceptance into the program will be made following a phone and/or in-person assessment.
Course
- Commitment to GEMS program is for 4 weeks at a time.
- At arrival, GEMS participants will first check-in with a nurse for vital signs and medication intake at home.
- Activities are scheduled in a consecutive manner, but breaks are included. Our team will encourage bathroom breaks.
- GEMS participants and caretakers will be assessed at the time of admission to the program and by the end of the 4th week, for cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms in participants and their impact on caregiver, burden of care, etc.
- By the end of the 4th week, participants and their caretakers can renew participation or not. The GEMS team providers will provide their recommendation regarding the continued eligibility of the participant to continue being enrolled in the program, based on objective assessments conducted throughout the program.
Meet the GEMS Team (listed by alphabetical order)
- Dr. Marc Barakat, Clinical Neuropsychologist
- Ms. Mona Chebaro, Art Therapist
- Ms. Emma Daou, Clinical Psychologist specialized for seniors
- Ms. Joesmar Ibrahim, Social Worker
- Ms. Saydeh Hammouche, Nurse Coordinator and certified carers for patients with dementia and their caregivers
- Ms Sara Issa, Clinical Psychologist specializing in cognitive stimulation
- Elie Dagher & Charbel Rizk, Physical therapists
- Dr. Rita Khoury, Adult and Geriatric Psychiatrist
For more information please call us on 01-759620, visit our website Department of Psychiatry (aubmc.org.lb), or email the director of the program Dr. Rita Khoury on rk224@aub.edu.lb or the associate director Dr. Marc Barakat on mb178@aub.edu.lb