As the elderly population grows — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects that the number of persons 65 years and older will double to 89 million by 2050 — hospitals need to redesign their emergency departments (ED) to accommodate the special needs of these frequent emergency-room visitors, according to an article on the Health Facility Management magazine website.
A growing number of hospitals have either built EDs that offer senior-specific patient care or have one in the development stages, according to a report by ECRI Institute, Plymouth Meeting, Pa., in its recent "Top 10 Hospital C-Suite Watch List," the article said.
Healthcare industry reports show that more than 50 have opened across the United States since 2011. An estimated 150 are in development, ECRI said.
Senior-specific EDs usually include features like nonskid floors and handrails to prevent falls, thicker bed mattresses to prevent ulcers, a quiet environment and special lighting to make elderly patients as comfortable as possible, according to the article.
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