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The new GEM unit at Monmouth Medical Center features six private enclosed rooms in a separate area of the hospital’s Emergency Department specially designed to meet the complex needs of the frail elderly and their caretakers. The environment is specifically designed for privacy and quiet and to reduce anxiety, noise, confusion and risk of falling. The rooms are attuned to special age-related needs with wall sconces that can be dimmed to provide a more relaxing environment and floor lighting that reflects to prevent falls.
Other amenities of the unit include special beds with extra-padded mattresses to help reduce pressure and equipped with alarms to prevent patient falls by alerting staff if a disoriented patient attempts to get out of bed. Large face clocks, special pillow speakers to make watching television and listening to music more comfortable and blanket warmers are among the host of appointments for the new unit.
The physician and nursing staff have been specially trained and are dedicated to caring for seniors, and a nurse practitioner trained in geriatrics is our program coordinator and will be in close communication with the referring physician.
The unit also has a dedicated pharmacist who will focus on medications commonly prescribed for seniors with special attention to issues that can result in dangerous interactions.
The discharge process begins in the ED with continuity and coordination of care throughout Monmouth Medical Center, as well as with community providers, agency staff and nursing home staff as appropriate. The goal is for the transition to be seamless and to decrease the possibility of a return visit to the ED.
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