Friday, August 13, 2010

Johns Hopkins' Nurse Makes a Difference for the Aging

The population continues to age because we have better health care and more interventions to help keep the elderly safe as well as healthy. This also presents many new challenges each day to keep this population safe and as independent as possible. An associate nursing professor at Johns Hopkins' University School of Nursing has made a difference in Baltimore, MD with a pilot program.

If your aging parents or spouse needs some suggestions for safer living, contact the PCP (primary care practitioner) to discuss the possibility of a home health safety evaluation.  A visiting nurse, PT, OT and Medical Social Worker can be made available to assess their needs to keep them safe and as independent as possible in their own home. This service is paid through Medicare as long as there is a skilled need and the physician orders the evaluation. The skilled need can be issues such as a fall risk, safety with performing activities of daily living, taking medications appropriately, and pain control.


Image:Microsoft.com