Geriatric models revisited as age friendly health care

In 2009, we wrote an editorial for this column asking why geriatric models of care were not coordinating their efforts toward a comprehensive, intra-professional, multi-component strategy to support high quality geriatric acute care.1 These models, including the Geriatric/Palliative care consultation service (on-site or virtual), the ACE (acute care for the elderly) unit or mobile version, the NICHE (nurses improving care for health systems) initiative, the GRN (Geriatric Resource Nurse) model, the HELP (Hospital Elder Life Program), the Advanced Practice Nurse Transitional Care model, and the Care Transition Intervention program all improve care to older persons by emphasizing patient/family centered involvement; educating health providers regarding core geriatric principles; decreasing nosocomial complications common to hospitalized older adults; utilizing evidence-based, aging-sensitive interventions; promoting interdisciplinary communication; and/or, supporting seamless transitioning upon discharge.
Source: Geriatric Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Source Type: research