The Role and Value of Specialized Geriatric Services
Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto
The Role and Value of Specialized Geriatric Services
محتويات
The Purpose[عدل]
A system of health care services that optimises the health, independence and quality of life of seniors with complex health problems.
The Need[عدل]
- Demographics and Dollars: The needs of an aging population will be the single most significant challenge facing our health system. A major factor in health system re-structuring.
- Challenges in Assessment and Treatment: The fundamental premise is that much of the disease, disability and dependency in old age is preventable, treatable, or manageable.
- Seniors with complex health problems have unique needs and present specific challenges for accurate diagnosis and assessment.
- Inaccurate diagnoses may result in inappropriate treatment, with further losses of health and independence, premature placement and long lengths of stay in acute care.
Who Benefits[عدل]
- Seniors, 75 years of age or more, with complex, multiple health problems, dependent, in activities of daily living.
- 15% of the population 65 years of age or more, "the frail elderly".
- Family caregivers, through education and linkages to community services.
- Society, through the reduction of unnecessary human and financial costs.
What We Provide[عدل]
- A comprehensive range of specialised geriatric assessment, short term treatment and rehabilitation services provided by interdisciplinary teams with expertise in care of the elderly, across the continuum of care.
- Inpatient
- Geriatric Assessment Units
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Units
- Geriatric Consultation Teams
- Outpatient
- Geriatric Clinics
- Geriatric Day Hospitals
- Geriatric Outreach Services
- Inpatient
- Consultation and advice on the management of complex health problems.
- Integration of consultation, education, research and community development to extend the geriatric capability of primary and continuing care.
- Research to promote evidence-based, high quality, effective care of the elderly.
When to Refer[عدل]
- Major Geriatric Problems: Recent onset of unexplained changes in physical, mental or functional status - falls, incontinence, confusion, impaired mobility, and polypharmacy.
- Interaction of multiple and complex medical problems.
- Increased use of health care services.
- Major change in support needs.
The Benefits[عدل]
- Increased independence and quality of life for seniors and their caregivers.
- Improved patient outcomes:
- Reduce functional decline associated with hospitalisation.
- Increased likelihood of discharges home / reduced institutionalisation.
- Reduced mortality.
- Increased clinical efficiencies in acute care.
- Reduced lengths of stay and readmission rates.
- Decreased ALC days.
- Enhanced capacity of physicians and other care providers to assess and treat health problems of the elderly.
رابط[عدل]
http://rgps.on.ca/role-and-value-specialized-geriatric-services