Geriatric Resources. The levels of care

For proper health care to the elderly, it is essential to proper coordination of different stakeholders involved. This health care could be based on:

 

Primary Care. Also called health centers. One goal of these centers is to get the elderly to remain or be reinstated on the usual residence in adequate conditions of safety and security. Among the functions of the nurse in primary care include:

• Prevention activities.
• Detection frail elderly.
• Periodic examinations.
• Health education.
• Avoiding iatrogenic.
• Care of chronic diseases.
• Home care.
• Etc.

 

Acute Geriatric Unit. Intended level of geriatric hospitalization where a thorough assessment is performed, it is diagnosed and treated acute processes or flare of chronic conditions. In these units the nurse:

• Performs secondary and tertiary prevention.
• Nurse Care Process.
• Comprehensive care.
• Health education to patient and family or caregiver.
• Management indicated treatment.
• Hygiene.
• Prevention and care of pressure ulcers.
• Etc.

 

Median Unit Stay or convalescence. Level that hosts patients in subacute phase and whose pathologies are disabling but potentially reversible, they can not yet follow outpatient treatment. At this level the nurse:

• Secondary and tertiary preventive care.
• Continuing care: Patients come from the treble unit.
• Comprehensive care: Emphasis on functional care and social issues.
• Etc.

  

Long Stay Unit or residence. Hospital level for the attention of elderly patients with little or no chance of recovery and that require continuous care clinicians. Nursing in this case perfoms:

• All types of care.
• Food.
• Hygiene.
• Symptom control.
• Treatment delivery.
• Preventing falls.
• Preventing immobility.
• Quality control.
• Leisure activities.
• Etc.

 

Geriatric Day Hospital. Care Level daytime functioning without inpatient beds designed to complete clinical recovery, physical, mental and social elder, combining the advantages of hospitalization and stay at home. The nursing activities in these centers are:

• Healing of ulcers.
• Placement and probes changes.
• Metabolic controls.
• Group therapy.
• Control and monitoring of diseases.
• Etc.

 

 

 

Bibliography:

• Assists in Geriatrics Levels [Website *]. [Revised 15/05/2013, updated 10/05/2013]. Available at: www.segg.es/download.asp?file=/tratadogeriatria/PDF/S35-05%2006.