Upon admission, the ATU team works with individuals to determine what community resources they may benefit from; oftentimes including ongoing physical and mental health care.
Family involvement is encouraged, and with permission, will be consulted with about their loved one’s recommended follow-up services. The average stay at the ATU is around five days, and individuals are provided with meals and snacks throughout the day, hygiene necessities, a laundry facility, and journals with writing materials.
Although the ATU is staffed by nurses and a psychiatric prescriber, it is licensed to provide only psychiatric services, and is unable to provide medical services to those individuals who may also have major medical problems for which they require additional assistance. Individuals who are violent and require restraint are not suitable for the ATU, as well as individuals who are intoxicated, withdrawing from substance use, immobile, or incontinent.