The Role and Value of Specialized Geriatric Services

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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.

• 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.