Access to affordable, quality mental health care was identified as a top priority in Watertown Regional Medical Center’s (WRMC) most recent Community Health Needs Assessment. One area of particular concern was the growing need for specialized mental health services for older adults.

The Senior Behavioral Health Unit provides short-term, inpatient treatment for adults ages 55 and older who need stabilization for acute mental health symptoms in a safe, structured environment. Referrals come from across Wisconsin, with many originating in local hospital emergency departments where patients are often first identified as being in crisis.

As demand for these services steadily increased, WRMC recognized that its existing 15-bed unit could not meet the need. To address this, the hospital explored opportunities to expand access and determined that adding more beds would best serve the community and state.

On October 1, 2025, WRMC officially opened its expanded Senior Behavioral Health Unit, adding 11 new beds—including dedicated space for higher-acuity patients—and bringing total capacity to 26. This expansion makes WRMC home to the largest geriatric psychiatry unit in Wisconsin.

Beyond meeting a critical healthcare need, the project also created 20 new healthcare jobs—strengthening WRMC’s position as one of the area’s largest employers and contributing to the overall well-being of the community.

The enhanced unit now provides greater access to immediate crisis stabilization while also helping connect patients to ongoing care and community resources. Through this expansion, WRMC directly addressed the priority of mental health identified in the Community Health Needs Assessment, while reinforcing its mission of bringing high-quality, compassionate care closer to home for the people it serves.