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The Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Senior Health Program offers a full range of services for older adults. Specialists and staff from many different medical specialties work together to combine their knowledge and treatment experience. This expertise keeps Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin on the forefront of better patient care.
Senior Health CareThis program provides general medical care and outpatient consultation for older adults with complex health issues. The goal of the Senior Health Care is to help the patient and family better understand health problems and care options and help the patient live as independently as possible. Services are provided on an outpatient basis, and family members or representatives are encouraged to participate. Services are individualized to patient needs and include:
- A thorough review of past medical records
- Complete physical examination
- Medication review
- Assessment of self-care abilities and living needs
- Screening of hearing, memory and mood
- Appropriate preventive measures to limit further disease and disability
Further specialty care, healthcare education and future planning are also provided. Our physicians work with an interdisciplinary team to assist with coordinating further medical care, hospital care, in-home services or relocation. Froedtert & Community Health partners with Horizon Home and Hospice, one of the area’s premier homecare agencies. Additional family conferences may also be arranged to discuss patient and family concerns.
Mind, Memory, Mood ClinicMany older adults and those close to them worry about memory loss. For others, aging may lead to behavioral and emotional health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, grief and dementia.
The Mind, Memory, Mood Clinic offers a comprehensive assessment and ongoing care by board-certified geriatricians and board-certified geriatric psychiatrists. The clinic is also staffed by advanced practice nurses, staff nurses and a social worker.
The program uses state-of-the-art technologies to diagnose and manage memory disorders. Care — designed to enhance overall functioning and improve the quality of life — is individualized to the needs of each patient and family.
Services in the Mind, Memory, Mood Clinic include:
- An evaluation of cognitive functioning (a person’s ability to think, reason and perceive)
- Comprehensive mental health evaluation
- Functional assessment
- Expert medication management
- Access to clinical research
- Onsite diagnostic testing to clarify diagnosis
- Supportive family counseling and referrals for psychotherapy
- Caregiver education and support including referrals to community agencies
- Hospitalization when necessary
- Assistance for patients and families to develop plans for future care
Professional Geriatric Care Management The goal of Geriatric Care Management is to ensure personalized care appropriate to the needs and wishes of older adults. This service is generally not covered by insurance and is paid privately by the older adult or family members.
Care managers thoroughly assess older adults in their current living environments and develop a comprehensive plan of options to meet the needs of older adults, their families or representative. Care management is provided by caring professionals with advanced degrees in nursing and social work who work with various healthcare systems and community services that assist older adults. Care managers work closely with Medical College of Wisconsin geriatricians and consult with a variety of other health professionals.
Services include:
- Comprehensive in-home assessment
- Consultations with health care professionals
- Written, personalized plan of care
- Obtaining and supervising in-home services
- Guidance with decisions and supportive counseling
- Relocation information and assistance
- Ongoing communication with family members
- Coordination of health care
- Telephone reassurance 24-hour emergency assistance
- Referrals to appropriate community providers
Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) at Froedtert HospitalACE is a geriatric consultation service that seeks to improve the care of vulnerable older patients (over age 65) who are hospitalized at Froedtert Hospital. The goal is to reduce the impact of hospitalization on a patient and maximize function and health. This is done by screening patients who are at high risk of complications while in the hospital and providing consultation to patients and care teams that request it. All members of the patient’s care team are involved, including physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, and the patient and family.
Author: Marla Fraunfelder Last Review Date: Oct. 23, 2008 Online Editor(s): Christopher Sadler |
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