Geriatrics and Senior Services

Why Methodist?

As an Age-Friendly Health System, Methodist is committed to preserving the dignity and independence of older adults. “Age-friendly health care” puts the patient and their wishes first by addressing the 4Ms:

• What Matters
• Medications
• Mentation
• Mobility

Through our services and programs, we are dedicated to delivering safe, reliable and exceptional health care to older adults in every setting, including our emergency departments. Methodist Hospital’s Emergency Department is the only one in the state with a Level 2 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation.

Methodist’s comprehensive Geriatrics and Senior care includes:

• Acute Care for Elders Unit
• Geriatric Assessment Clinic
• Dunklau Gardens – Long-term care and short-term rehabilitation

Programs

Methodist offers programs to meet the unique needs of older adults.

Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) Volunteers
When older adults are hospitalized, they can become disoriented by the unfamiliar setting, absence or reduced family presence, and changes in routine, especially in combination with illness or injury, surgery, anesthesia and multiple medications. HELP volunteers at Methodist Hospital help orient at-risk patients 70 years and older by supporting and encouraging socialization, alertness and mobility within the limits of their physical condition. If you are a health care professions college student and want to become a Methodist Hospital HELP volunteer, please contact the volunteer recruiter and coordinator at (402) 815-1130.

Geriatric Resource Nurse (GRN) Program
Nurses in the GRN program at the Methodist Hospital Emergency Department (ED) have received specialized geriatric education to better understand and care for older adults who come to the ED. Nurses conduct geriatric screenings as part of their initial patient assessment. Families or caregivers are included in the assessment to identify caregiver strain and to learn about community resources. Examples of what a GRN may do include:

• Partnering with social workers, who offer referrals and information on skilled nursing, home health, hospice, respite care and other resources
• Calling physical therapists to the ED for on-site assessments
• Referring patients to Methodist’s Balance and Fall Physical Therapy program
• Identifying needs tied to medication, depression, palliative care, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
• Scheduling follow-up appointments
• Coordinating prescription delivery

AgeWISE Geropalliative Care Nurse Residency Program
Methodist has a robust residency program designed to teach registered nurses about geriatrics, palliative and end-of-life care. After completing the four-month program, nurses become certified within their specialties. AgeWISE is the standard of practice in promoting excellence in geriatric care patient care.

AgeLess Program
The AgeLess Program at Methodist Fremont Health, designed for people age 55 and older, offers educational seminars and social activities. Medical social workers and pharmacists are available to help guide members through the world of advance directives, prescription questions and ways to reduce medication costs. Apply here.

Program members receive discounts on the below wellness screenings:

• Wellness blood profiles
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test
• Hemoglobin (HgbA1C or A1c) test
• Hepatitis C antibody test

For more information about the AgeLess Program, call (402) 727-3497.