A PATIENT-CENTERED MODEL OF ACUTE-CARE FOR ELDERS

The patient centered ''Acute Care of the Elderly Unit'' is a multiface ted process of care that combines optimal geriatric nursing and medica l care of elders within an interdisciplinary model. Although functiona l decline has been previously assumed to be an inevitable consequence of hospitalization, preliminary findings suggest that a patient center ed multidisciplinary model of geriatric care prevents functional decli ne of hospitalized elders. In addition, the ''low tech'' interventions and cost savings outcomes suggests the feasibility of implementing th is model of care in hospitals serving a variety of patient populations .