Setting up a Geriatric Friendly Practice

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Setting up a Geriatric -Friendly Practice

• Lisa Z. Killinger, DC
• Palmer College of Chiropractic

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Issues in Geriatric Friendliness

• Facilities
• Surroundings
• Equipment
• Lighting
• Sound
• Forms
• You!!

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Facilities

• Carpeting issues
• Marking steps up/down
• Handrails, esp. in restrooms
• Well- lit
• Easy-open doors, flat, smooth thresholds
• Others?

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Surroundings

• Location, Location, Location!!!
• On a bus route?
• Near a senior housing facility?
• Near their other healthcare facilities?
• Is parking close by and safe?
• Sidewalks and parking lot (repair unevenness,
  cracks, potholes, etc.)
• Stairs? Clearly marked with hand rails

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Equipment

• Tables (wider/softer better/safer)
• Chairs (not too low/deep)-arm rests
• Bathrooms, slip-proof, handrails
• Paper towels and wet floors

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Equipment cont

• Easy open doors ( can be opened from outside, in
  case of emergency)
• Massage equipment, heat, ice, adaptable to older
  pts. (Toweling avail lower settings, etc)
• More?

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Lighting and Sound

• Remember 1/3 to 1/2 of older pts are visually
  impaired
• Mood lighting is not for seniors
• Background music makes hearing impossible for
  hearing impaired pts.
• No music in patient interview area!
• Be aware of outdoor/traffic noise, air
  conditioning noise, etc.

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Forms

• LARGE bold sans-serif
  print is easier to see!
  (FRUSTRATING, eh?)

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List any auto accidents or injuries you have had
in the last 5 years ________________________

• OR.
• List any auto accidents or injuries you have had
  in the last 5 years
• __________________________________________________
  __________

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Have your staff (You can do this before you get
busy in practice!) print a separate set of large
print forms forms for your older/visually
impaired patients. Your patients will thank
you!

• .

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What About You?

• Can you slow down/speak clearly?
• Will you face pts when you speak?
• Will you be patient while pts answer?
• Can you listen,... then talk?

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Communication

• Can you, politely and kindly, re-direct a
  verbally wandering patient?
• Will you be able to (comfortably) support your
  patients, assist them in getting up, etc?
• Will you be able to talk about death/dying?

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Be a wealth of information!

• Provide community resource directories for aging
  patients
• Know the hot topics in aging www.aarp.org
• Find info on college courses for adults/seniors,
  exercise classes for seniors, restaurants with
  senior discounts, aging services centers
  (E.gCASI)

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Be an Advocate of Healthy, Successful Aging

• Recommend preventive screenings
• Educate about home safety, health promotion and
  prevention
• Reward healthy behaviors (Walk a 1,000 mile
  campaigns, etc)
• Provide opportunities for older pts. to
  interact/play with younger patients
• Consider a bartering network

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Encourage older patients to volunteer!(Volunteeri
ng improves health)

• Be a good role model
• Volunteer yourself!