They do an excellent job. Jahsmann describes the Eagle s Nest as a day time rehabilitation center for the mentally ill, where people can practice general work skills. Jones gets help from the Rockbridge Mental Health Clinic, run by Rockbridge Area Community Services. There s a full array of mental health services available here, Jahsman said. There s individual and group therapy.
Payment is based on a sliding scale of a patient s ability to pay.
Most depression cases are not as severe as Jones . There s a lot of mild depression, said Charlotte Rudkin, director of the Valley Program for the Aging office in Lexington, Virginia. A lot of senior citizens are on mild anti-depressants. Even with the support systems in place, there comes a time when many elderly people simply cannot take care of themselves anymore. Sixty-five percent of all medicaid payments in the county are to elderly patients living in care facilities, according to Phyllis Bennington, Director of Rockbridge Social Services.