Streamlined hospital care means a faster return home for older adults
The scene is all too familiar: An older person goes into the hospital for a broken foot and winds up frail and more confused than when he was admitted.
"Older patients don't always handle hospitalization well," says
Terrance Schiller, MD. "They may experience muscle weakness, depression and loss of basic thinking skills while hospitalized."
To prevent this from happening, Virtua Berlin Hospital's Acute Care for Elders (ACE) unit and Virtua Memorial Hospital's ACE care team use an age-appropriate approach to caring for older patients. As an example, the team schedules tests together to reduce fasting and arranges for quick referrals to address mobility problems. These changes help older adults maintain mental and physical abilities while hospitalized so they can return home faster.
For more information on Virtua's ACE units, call
1-888-Virtua-3.