Murfreesboro’s Preferred Intellectual & Developmental Disability Treatment Program

Those who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) may have difficulty learning, communicating, and planning. This can make it hard to function in traditional work environments and live independently. In some cases, those who are experiencing crisis-level symptoms of IDDs may also be at risk for harming themselves or others.  

If you or a loved one is struggling with an IDD, we can help at TrustPoint Hospital. In our intellectual and developmental disabilities program, our experienced professionals provide clinically excellent care for adults age 18 and older who have IDDs and co-occurring mental health concerns.  

Learn About Our IDD Program in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

In our IDD program at TrustPoint Hospital, we provide care for adults age 18 and older who are struggling with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health concerns, including: 

  • Depression 
  • Anxiety 
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder 
  • Bipolar disorder 
  • Schizophrenia 
  • Schizoaffective disorder 
  • Psychosis 

In our IDD program, we help those who are experiencing crisis-level symptoms that are interfering with their ability to function and placing them at risk for harming themselves or others. Our hospital provides a safe and supportive environment where patients can receive 24-hour supervision as they stabilize and begin forming a foundation for lasting healing. 

At TrustPoint, our IDD program is tailored for those who have acute needs and could benefit from receiving personalized inpatient care. Patients in our IDD program can receive care from a specialized team of mental health and medical professionals in a safe therapeutic environment.  

Our professionals include: 

  • Registered nurses 
  • Psychiatrists 
  • Physicians 
  • Social workers 
  • Board-certified behavior analysts  
  • Registered behavior technician  
  • Personal care technicians  
  • Behavior analyst assistants 
  • Applied behavior analysis therapists 
  • Recreational therapists 

Patients can participate in our IDD program without first completing a higher level of care at our hospital. Because symptoms of IDDs vary so much from person to person, we don’t predetermine a specific length of stay in our intellectual and developmental disabilities program. Instead, we make sure that every patient has enough time to learn valuable skills and develop a deeper sense of self-confidence. 

What To Expect at Our Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Hospital

Adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health concerns can get clinically excellent care in our IDD program at TrustPoint. Before a patient receives care at our Murfreesboro hospital, they complete a series of assessments so that our team can create a customized care plan for them. This care plan may include: 

  • Medication management services: Patients who have been prescribed medication as part of their care plan can meet with a psychiatrist daily. They can also receive regular medication management services from our physicians, registered nurses, and licensed nurse practitioners.  
  • Group therapy: Our board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs), nurses, social workers, and expressive therapy staff lead daily group therapy sessions. These sessions give patients the chance to get to know one another and learn more about topics like BCBA therapies and skill development. 
  • Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapies: We use ABA therapies to help patients identify and alter their problematic behaviors. 
  • Experiential therapies: Patients in our IDD program can participate in daily experiential therapies, such as expressive, recreation, art, and music therapies.  

In our IDD program, we offer: 

  • Safe living quarters: At our hospital, we have renovated and specially furnished rooms with designated outdoor spaces to provide a safe and comfortable therapeutic environment for those who have IDDs and co-occurring mental health concerns. 
  • Round-the-clock supervision: Our staff of social workers, nurses, BCBAs, and personal care technicians provides 24-hour assistance for those who are in our IDD program. 
  • On-site therapies: We offer on-site speech, occupational, and physical therapies for patients who could benefit from receiving these services. 
  • On-site and off-site resources: Our staff works together with internal support teams, subject matter experts (SMEs), and community agencies to ensure that each patient gets well-rounded assistance. 
  • Daily therapies: Our specialized staff of nurses, ABA therapists, licensed social workers, and certified recreational therapists provides daily evidence-based interventions that help our patients learn new skills. 
  • Aftercare planning: To make sure that each patient can continue to receive the care they need after they leave our IDD program, we provide them with a detailed aftercare plan. This plan includes referrals and recommendations for support groups and outpatient services in their community.  

Our Approach to Care

Those who have intellectual and developmental disabilities may find it hard to regulate their emotions. This can lead to frustration and behavior that can impact them and those around them. In our IDD program, therapists work with patients to help them develop emotion regulation strategies. By using these strategies, patients can manage their symptoms, gain confidence, and form a foundation for lasting healing. 

We use applied behavior analysis to treat patients who have IDDs. The ABA care process involves a set of assessments that allows our clinicians to determine what type of therapies each patient should take part in. These assessments include: 

  • Preference assessment: We use this assessment to gather information about a patient’s preferences for activities and foods. During this assessment, we also note the patient’s behavioral reinforcers and determine the patient’s communication ability. If communication supports such as visual aids are needed, we can begin using those supports. 
  • Functional assessment interview (FAI): Our staff interviews each patient to find out what their problematic behaviors are. The FAI allows our team to develop a personalized behavioral support plan for each patient. This plan is designed to help the patient reduce problematic behaviors throughout their participation in our IDD program. 
  • Essential for living assessment (ELA): The ELA assessment measures a patient’s ability to do basic daily tasks, communicate, and handle disappointment. Each patient completes one assessment at the beginning of their participation in the IDD program and another when they’ve finished the program to measure their progress. 
  • Ongoing ABA assessments: Throughout a patient’s time in the IDD program at TrustPoint, we do ABA assessments that help us determine the causes of the patient’s problematic behavior and the consequences.  

Our thorough ABA assessments help us understand how to provide effective care for each patient. Based on the information we gather from the ABA assessments, our team creates a personalized care plan and behavior support plan (BSP) for each person. These plans include recommendations for the person’s daily activities and therapies we believe will best support them in their healing process. 

Benefits of Participating in the IDD Program at TrustPoint Hospital

Symptoms of intellectual and developmental disabilities can vary widely in type and severity, so personalized care can be the most effective when it comes to treating patients in our IDD program. By receiving services at TrustPoint Hospital, people can improve their well-being and find more satisfaction in their lives. We focus on providing care that can help our patients: 

  • Improve fine motor capabilities 
  • Manage problematic behaviors 
  • Increase their independence and self-sufficiency 
  • Develop learning strategies 
  • Build self-esteem 
  • Develop social skills 
  • Learn communication skills 
  • Understand rights and privacy 
  • Develop skills that can help them get and maintain a job, if possible 

Our Admissions Process

We understand how crucial it is for someone who is experiencing crisis-level symptoms of IDDs to find the care they need as soon as possible. All admissions to our IDD program go through the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD), a state agency that helps Tennesseans who have IDDs get the services and support they need. DIDD works with individuals, families, community providers, and advocates to provide various types and levels of care for people depending on their needs. 

To begin the admissions process for TrustPoint Hospital’s IDD program on behalf of someone who has an IDD, reach out to DIDD. Through their Tennessee START Assessment & Stabilization Teams (TN START) services, referring providers can fill out an online form to begin START enrollment. To be enrolled in START, an individual must meet one of the following criteria: 

  • Currently experiencing crisis-level symptoms of a mental health concern 
  • At, or has been to, a psychiatric hospital in the past two years 
  • Requires additional or one-to-one staffing 
  • Has a history of multiple community placements due to challenging behavior or an untreated mental health concern 
  • Has a mix of behavioral and medical concerns 

Once you submit the online form, someone from TN START will email you to outline the next steps in the admissions process. 

If you have any questions about the admissions process or would like to learn more about our services, please contact a member of our team. 

This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at TrustPoint Hospital. 

Marks of Quality Care
  • Alzheimer's Association
  • Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  • Children's Behavioral Solutions
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
  • Tennessee Hospital Association
  • Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network
  • The Jason Foundation