For Seniors

One of Mission Hospital's main goals is to promote, maintain and enhance the health of our region's senior citizens. We take great pride in providing compassion along with advanced technology to achieve this goal.

In addition to the information listed to the right, here are some Mission Hospital services you may be interested in:

Orthopedic Services	Heart Services	Sleep Center
Pelvic Floor Program	Pharmacy	Chronic Disease Mgmt
Volunteer Services	Rehabilitation & Therapy

Additionally, our Senior Services Coordinator Betsey Bent is always available to answer questions and provide support as we continue to add new programs and services for seniors. She may be reached by:

Phone 828-213-4664; or
E-mail: betsey.bent@msj.org

What Does Mission Hospital Senior Services Have to Offer?
We've worked diligently to deliver quality care and services to seniors. To date, programs and services include:

Geriatric Consultation Service: Bridges the gap between acute care medicine and palliative medicine while improving quality of care and patient safety for older adult patients.
Delirium Prevention and Treatment Program: Designed to reduce the incidence of delirium at Mission Hospital and to improve the recognition and diagnosis of delirium by applying nationally-recognized best treatment practices. For families who need assistance with an aging loved one who may be experiencing short-term memory loss or confusion, helpful tips can be found here: Delirium Guide for Family and Friends.
Caring for Aging Parents Education and Support Program (CAPES): An education and support program; this group is for anyone caring for or concerned about an aging parent. The group meets the 3rd Monday of each month (January is the 4th Monday) from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Women's Resource Center at 50 Doctor's Drive.
Lifeline: A 24-hour home monitoring service for those who live independently, but may need assistance in case of an emergency.

Health Education Programs: Helps area seniors to remain active and well-informed about their health.

Volunteering Opportunities: Provides seniors with rewarding work throughout Mission Hospital.

For additional resources on healthy aging, visit: Healthy Aging Links.

SAGE Institute Grants Mission Hospital "Geriatric Best Practices"

In 2004, the SAGE Institute named the following three programs as "Geriatric Best Practices" in the region. They were:

Geriatric Resource Nurse Program (GRN): This nationwide educational model is designed to promote best practices in acute care geriatric nursing. In 2009, we celebrated our 10th graduating class and currently we have approximately 170 GRNs.
Dementia Responsive Care (DRC): Mission Hospital developed this model to improve care for hospitalized patients with dementia. Through staff education and family involvement, patients receive individualized care to increase comfort and maintain physical and cognitive function during their hospital stay.
Palliative Care Consultation Service: This service is a collaboration involving Mission Hospital, CarePartners Hospice and Palliative Care. An interdisciplinary consultation team works inside the hospital to provide support and assistance regarding end-of-life decisions and issues.

Awards and Acknowledgements

BOOST (Better Outcomes for Older adults through Safe Transitions): in 2009, Mission Hospital was one of 24 sites chosen by the Society of Hospital Medicine to implement Project BOOST. This comprehensive program optimizes care transitions for older adults from hospital to home, and reduces preventable re-hospitalizations and complications.
Practice Change Fellows (PCF): This two-year fellowship aims to create a network of specialists dedicated to influencing and improving health care delivery for older adults. In the first year, a geriatric hip fracture program will be designed to reduce length of stay, and improve patient education and follow-up care/transitional care. The second year will work to improve the continuum of care with discharge, post discharge education and follow-up care.

Physical and Mental Well Being

While it's true that everyone ages differently, mind and body fitness remain important factors. For instance, did you know that doing crossword puzzles can be as important as physical exercise? Mental exercises yield healthier and more active seniors.

Additionally, a major misconception is that as we age we should stop activities such as regular physical exercise - nothing could be further from the truth. Regular physical activity keeps:

your muscles strong;
your ligaments and joints flexible, and;
your heart healthy.

Physical exercise helps maintain good balance and posture; can prevent or improve conditions like arthritis and back pain; and can even ward off depression. Common problems such as incontinence and constipation can also be improved through a healthy change in diet and lifestyle habits.

Excellent Healthy Aging Resources
We have added articles to our comprehensive collection of health articles in our A-Z Health Library that will help educate you on how to stay healthy as you mature. Here, you can also download the National Institute on Aging's Exercise Guide.

Additionally, our Senior Services Coordinator Betsey Bent is always available to answer questions and provide support as we continue to add new programs and services for seniors.

She may be reached by:

Phone 828-213-4664; or
E-mail: betsey.bent@msj.org