West Health

Articles

7 Key Steps in Developing New Options for Responding to Unplanned Acute Care

April 16, 2020  Sadie, a 76-year-old who lives alone and suffers from chronic renal stones suddenly developed acute flank pain resulting in four medical visits in one week. First to her primary care provider (PCP), second to the emergency department (ED), and a third visit to Urgent Care. Each time she was sent home and instructed… Read more »

Take the Pledge to Combat Social Isolation Among Older Adults

April 1, 2020 Today, the California Department of Aging and the California Health and Human Services Agency announced the Stay Home, Save Lives, Check In Campaign. They’re encouraging people, like us, to take a few minutes out of each day to check-in with our older neighbors. Let’s make sure they feel connected and that they… Read more »

Reauthorization of Older Americans Act is a Victory for Seniors and Successful Aging in America

West Health applauds this week’s passage of legislation reauthorizing the Older Americans Act (OAA), which provides critical funding for programs and services that combat malnutrition, elder abuse and social isolation, support family caregivers and senior centers, and help older adults with transportation, legal issues and in-home and community-based care. The reauthorization of OAA is a… Read more »

Telehealth Discussed at NIC Spring Conference

by Katie Roper | March 24, 2020 Medicare just announced that it will − temporarily − reimburse for telehealth-provided services, opening an opportunity for seniors housing providers to provide residents with access to vital health services without exposing them to pathogens circulating at hospitals and clinics as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. A very… Read more »

COVID-19 in Older Adults: Key Points for Emergency Department Providers

March 18, 2020 BOX 1 PATIENT SCENARIO 1: The daughter of an 82-year-old community-dwelling, woman calls the ED nurse hotline regarding her mother. The patient has a past medical history of diabetes mellitus and multiple comorbid illnesses. During the past week the patient had a cough, runny nose, and a slight fever. No temperature has… Read more »

An Important Update from our President and CEO, Shelley Lyford

April 22, 2020 The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is putting enormous and unprecedented strain on our entire population and placing new and significant pressures on our fragile system of healthcare and social services, and our once mighty economy. And while no one is immune from COVID-19, the data is clear that seniors and people with underlying chronic… Read more »

Older Americans Month—Connect, Create, Contribute

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads our nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. The 2019 theme, Connect, Create, Contribute, encourages older adults and their communities to: Connect with friends, family, and services that support participation. Create by engaging in activities that promote learning, health, and personal enrichment. Contribute time, talent, and life experience to benefit others. Communities… Read more »