The Role and Value of Specialized Geriatric Services

من ويكيتعمر
اذهب إلى: تصفح، ابحث

Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto

The Role and Value of Specialized Geriatric Services

The Purpose

A system of health care services that optimises the health, independence and quality of life of seniors with complex health problems.

The Need

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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
  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

http://rgps.on.ca/role-and-value-specialized-geriatric-services