Acute Care for Elders (ACE)

Transcription

1 Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Providing Excellence in Care for Older Patients/Families Vancouver General Hospital 899 West 12th Avenue Vancouver BC V5Z 1M9 Tel:

2 Our Purpose The Phyllis Howard Memorial Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Units provides hospital care for older adults and their families. We recognize that older patients have unique needs and require special care to remain independent. During your stay, we help you recover from your illness, remain independent and prepare for your return home. Our Belief On the ACE Units, we believe that you can remain independent by participating in your own recovery with our support and care. The goal is to help you return to your home. We help you to maintain and restore your ability to care for yourself and to improve your well-being. Our staff are known for providing excellent health care and respecting the multicultural backgrounds of older patients and their families. Elder-Friendly Surroundings The staff tries to maintain surroundings that help you to remain independent in walking and caring for yourself. A variety of equipment for walking and sitting is available. Calendars and clocks help you keep track of the date and time. We try to keep hospital transfers to a minimum. Staying Active Older adults who stay active by walking have fewer complications and return home sooner and stronger. The goal for mobile older adults is to walk at least 4 times each day. The health care team will help you walk as much as possible. And, your family and friends can help by taking you for a walk. Please ask the nurse or physiotherapist about walking or equipment before getting out of bed. How You Can Help Please ask any team member how you can stay active by: Combing hair Shaving Trimming finger nails Cleaning dentures Getting water and food Eating meal Getting out of bed Wearing non-slip foot wear Health Care Team Using the toilet During your stay, a team of professionals skilled in caring for older adults provides your care. This team has physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists, social workers, pharmacists and others. The team assesses your health, develops a care plan and prepares you and your family to return home. 1 2

3 Doctors An Internal Medicine Team, Family Practice Hospitalist or, sometimes, your own physician, provides your medical care. A Geriatrician and a Geriatric Psychiatrist (doctors who specialize in the care of older adults) are available for consultation. Nurses Nurses provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Patient Care Coordinator leads the team of Registered Nurses (RN), Patient Care Aides (PCA) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). The nurses assess your health and create your care plan. Care Management Leader (CML) Your CML is a nurse who coordinates your health care with the team when you are in hospital and helps you with your plans to go home. Occupational Therapist (OT) The OT makes sure you maintain or regain your ability to do the practical day-to-day things you need to do. These include eating independently, getting dressed, bathing, cooking, banking, etc. The OT may arrange for equipment or a visit by an OT to your home. The OT helps plan your discharge from hospital. This helps you cope and be safe when you return home. Physiotherapist (PT) The PT helps to improve your mobility and strengthen your muscles and joints. This will prepare you for your safe discharge home. The PT may recommend a mobility aid, like a cane, and provide information on preventing falls. Pharmacist The pharmacist reviews your medications to optimize your treatment. They may liaise with your community pharmacist to make sure you have the drugs you need on your discharge. Dietitian The dietitian helps you to improve your nutritional intake and provides information about adjusting your diet. Social Worker The social worker supports you and your family with information about home support, respite, palliative and residential care programs. The social worker also assists with referrals to community resources such as medical alert systems, meal programs, and specialized transportation. The social worker helps with financial concerns and can refer you to income support programs. 3 4

4 Chaplain The chaplain supports and assists you and your family with spiritual care and respects the multifaith and multicultural backgrounds of our patients. Speech Language Pathologist The speech-language pathologist (SLP) provides you and your family with assistance with swallowing and/or communication problems. Discharge Plans We believe that home is the best place for older adults to recover. Your CML and health care team start to plan your return home as soon as you are admitted to the hospital. There are many things to consider when going home: Prescriptions Equipment Home care/support Appointments Transportation We try to give you and your family as much time as possible to prepare for discharge. Recovering From Illness After your illness or injury improves, you may need more time to recover before going home. Your health care team will work with you and your family to decide on the best place for your convalescence. At this time, you may be moved to another area that specializes in care of older patients and families. For example, you could be moved to the Sub-Acute Medical (SAM) Unit in Centennial Pavilion or a Transitional Care Unit (TCU) at another location. Here, the health care team will help you regain independence, monitor your medical conditions, support your recovery and rehabilitation, and, when possible, help you return home. Your Valuables Please help us by tracking your personal belongings like glasses, dentures and hearing aids. It is advisable to send valuables such as watches and rings home for safekeeping. Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Units Locations Jim Pattison Pavilion T11A: T11D: Centennial Pavilion CP8 A/B:

5 Support for ACE Units If you would like to support the ACE Units, please contact the Foundation. Indicate that you wish to make a donation to the ACE Units. Donations are used to improve care for older patients and their families through education and the purchase of equipment. Contact: VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation 855 West 12th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M or Cover image source: Health Canada website and Media Photo Gallery Health Canada, Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2005 For more copies, go online at or phem@vch.ca and quote Catalogue No. JB.300.AC953 Vancouver Coastal Health, June 2012 The information in this document is intended solely for the person to whom it was given by the health care team.