Articles related to focusing on healthy aging, prevention, mobility, cognition, nutrition, independence, and caregiving support.
As the global population ages, specialized healthcare is becoming increasingly important. An elderly care ward, also known as a geriatric ward, is a specialized hospital unit dedicated to addressing the complex and unique health needs of older adults.
According to the National Institutes of Health, hospitalization for older adults can often result in a significant loss of independence in activities of daily living. This phenomenon, known as hospital-associated disability, is what the acute care of the elderly person (ACE) model was specifically created to combat, focusing on evidence-based strategies to maintain and restore function during and after a hospital stay.
Research has shown that patients in an Acute Care for Elders (ACE) program often experience better outcomes, including shorter hospital stays and fewer complications, compared to standard hospital care. The Acute Care for Elderly program is a specialized model of care designed specifically to address the complex needs of older adults during an acute hospital stay, with the goal of preserving their independence and function.
According to a study published in the *New England Journal of Medicine* in 1995, patients treated within an Acute Care for Elderly (ACE) model demonstrated improved functional abilities upon discharge compared to those receiving traditional care. This specialized care approach was developed to address the significant risk of functional and cognitive decline that many older adults experience during hospitalization.
