What's New | October 27, 2008

Improving the Health and Care of the Elderly

The US Census Bureau has projected that nearly one in five Americans will be age 65 or older by 2030, which will increase the demand for health care services. The featured innovations, by providing outreach to the elderly, preventive services, and care management, may reduce the need for intensive and expensive health care services.

Featured Innovations:

• Fall Prevention Education and Outreach Reduces Injuries and Use of Fall-Related Medical Services Among Community-Dwelling Seniors

• Weekly Group Storytelling Enhances Verbal Skills, Encourages Positive Behavior Change, and Reduces Confusion in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia

Featured QualityTools:

• Establishing Partnerships Between Managed Care and Aging Service Organizations
Developed by Alzheimer's Association of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties

• Survey User's Guide: Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety
Developed by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Westat

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Also in This Issue:

Innovations >

• Enhanced Toileting Program Reduces Incontinence and Its Comorbidities Among Residents of Long-Term Care Facility

• Information Technology (IT) Staff–Clinician Team Addresses IT Problems Affecting Providers and Patient Care, Leading to Increased System Usage and Efficiency

• Plan-Funded Team Coordinates Enhanced Primary Care and Support Services to At-Risk Seniors, Reducing Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits

• Postdischarge Telephone Followup With Chronic Disease Patients Reduces Hospitalizations, Emergency Department Visits, and Costs

QualityTools >

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health-Related Quality-of-Life 14-Item Measure
Developed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Newborn Screening ACTion (ACT) Sheets and Confirmatory Algorithms
Developed by American College of Medical Genetics

• Screening for Type 2 Diabetes in Adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations - Summaries for Patients
Developed by Annals of Internal Medicine

• The STAndards for BipoLar Excellence (STABLE) Resource Toolkit
Developed by Center for Quality Assessment and Improvement in Mental Health