UHS is community’s ‘Healthy Aging’ resource

Healthy Aging Month is observed each year in September. This observance raises awareness about the physical and mental health of older adults and serves as a reminder that, as we age, our minds and bodies change. UHS is an organization that recognizes those changing needs and tailors medical care and service to meet them. Across UHS, programs abound for older adults. In fact, our healthcare system has received national recognition for being in tune with the needs of the senior population.

We understand that, for many older patients and their families, hospital care can be a source of stress. That’s why we take part in the Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) program. As a result, UHS has earned 2024 “Senior-Friendly” recognition from NICHE. The designation shows success in the implementation of high-quality, System-wide initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to the care of older adults.

NICHE is a national nurse-driven program that validates a hospital’s commitment to excellence in the care of patients aged 65 or older. As part of our partnership with NICHE, UHS nurses have access to special training in the care of older patients. “We are proud to be recognized as senior-friendly by the NICHE program,” said Peggy Thomas, MSN, RN, CENP, vice president for Nursing and chief nursing officer of UHS Hospitals. “This recognition reflects UHS' commitment and dedication to providing care and improving healthcare for older adults and all patients.”

Similarly, primary care offices associated with UHS Hospitals are designated as “4M Age-Friendly Health System Committed to Care Excellence” practices by the nationally renowned Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the Healthcare Association of New York State.

“This signifies UHS Hospitals’ commitment to older patients using the evidence-based 4M model of care,” said Frank Eder, MD, a provider with UHS Primary Care Upper Front Street in Binghamton. “Age-friendly facilities see improvement in patient experience scores and quality outcomes, such as readmissions, emergency department utilization and length of stay.” The designation lets UHS Hospitals’ patients know that older adults matter to us. They’re a population with unique issues, and the 4M excellence badge shows that our staff are aware of this and willing to work toward better outcomes.

UHS Senior Living at Ideal, a 2023/2024 five-star skilled nursing facility, is a leader in the field of short-term rehabilitation. In addition to providing long-term residential care for the elderly, Ideal’s short-stay rehab unit is designed for individuals who need to improve their strength or endurance following illness, injury or surgery. An individualized therapy program based on goals, needs, and tolerance levels is developed by the Ideal therapists. The goal of most residents enrolled in Ideal’s Rehab program is to return home in a few weeks. All of our Rehab team members work together in this effort.

Looking ahead to 2025, UHS Ideal plans to add Outpatient Therapy to the list of services they offer to our community. Outpatient therapy is a treatment in which older adults receive a personalized plan of action from trained professionals in fields such as physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. Between sessions, patients return home to continue their exercises on their own; they don’t stay on-site because a physician has determined they don’t require 24-hour monitoring or assistance. “We believe that this new service will create synergies between our Residential Care Facility and those patients going home from Short-Term Rehab,” said James Shadduck, administrator of UHS Ideal. “This collaboration will allow for convenient access and coordinated care.”

UHS also reaches out to the region to participate in community-based efforts to make a difference in the lives of older persons and their families, including those dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

These are the facts about the Alzheimer's crisis:

• Nearly seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and by 2060, the number is projected to rise to nearly 14 million.
• One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
• It kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
• In 2024, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the nation $360 billion. By 2050, these costs could rise to nearly $1 trillion.

Team UHS is acutely aware of the toll this disease takes on individuals and their loved ones, which is why we support the annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Southern Tier” event on Saturday, Sept. 28, starting at 10 a.m., at Hickories Park in Owego.

Those seniors living independently at home also have access to a service that gives them peace of mind and emergency help at the push of a button. UHS Home Care’s Home Emergency Alarm Response (HEAR) system, featuring specially trained emergency operators, allows subscribers to call for help whether they are in their own house or on the go.

UHS is here for senior citizens during Healthy Aging Month and throughout the year! To learn more about UHS Senior Care programs and services specifically designed for seniors, click here.