
Mercy Perry is extending its age-friendly health system initiative to provide targeted care and resources for older adults and those with dementia.
Mercy Perry, in partnership with Saint Louis University, received a five-year, $350,000 Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to expand aging and dementia education and interventions.

“We focus on a four ‘M’ model for age-friendly health care,” said Janice Lundy, Mercy Perry’s social services and geriatric program manager. “Mobility – keeping older adults mobile. Medication – reducing the number of medications and medications that might hinder their cognitive and physical abilities. Mentation – including depression, dementia and delirium, which are common when older people are hospitalized. And finally, matters – what matters to the person, knowing their preferences for care.”
Every patient over the age of 65 seen by a Mercy Perry physician and advanced practice practitioner is screened for dementia symptoms. Those who may benefit from cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) are referred for evaluation.
CST is an evidence-based group dementia intervention that includes exercise to increase mobility. It’s based on a number of key principles that focus on a “use it or lose it” theory intended to improve cognitive and physical functioning, mood and quality of life for the person with memory loss. The program builds off a person’s strengths and avoids highlighting deficits, making for an enjoyable and optimal learning environment.

CST is initially 14 sessions over several months. If a patient wants to continue, Mercy Perry offers a long-term CST maintenance program, partially funded by the Perry County Senior Tax Commission Board.
“Caring for this population of aging adults requires a team approach to care and intervention. The primary care providers do not have the time or capacity to do this alone,” Lundy said. “It takes a health care team to assess for geriatric syndromes and provide targeted interventions, support and resources. With the number of aging adults increasing rapidly, we are also seeing a significant increase in cases of dementia. Mercy Perry has made this a priority by focusing on dementia assessment and providing innovative interventions.”
For more than 10 years, Lundy and Debbie Hayden, Mercy Perry’s manager of occupational therapy services, have spearheaded CST care to patients with dementia. They also are CST trainers for the United States and are the first in the country to offer a comprehensive long-term CST program. Both women have traveled the country and world to bring the program to other health care providers as far away as China. They’ve also hosted several international guests in Perryville to observe their programs.
“CST has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my career,” Hayden said. “It’s been rewarding to build relationships and watch participants improve. To see them light up and become engaged with others brings the greatest reward as a therapist. Many patients often say that is the best hour of their week.”
Mercy Perry also offers another evidence-based intervention, care of persons with dementia in their environment (COPE), for persons living with moderate to severe dementia and their caregivers. COPE is provided in the patient or caregiver’s home with a goal of improving the overall quality of life for the person with memory loss and their caregiver. This is accomplished through techniques and education that support reducing caregiver stress, improving communication with the person living with memory loss, creating a safe environment, modifying daily activities to promote independence and engagement, and providing strategies to caregivers to manage and reduce difficult behavioral symptoms. In addition, the program provides community resources and other needed support to specifically meet individual needs.
To learn more about the CST or COPE programs, contact Mercy Perry Therapy at 573-768-3216.
