Identifying modifiable factors to improve quality for older adults in hospital: a scoping review

Abstract

Registered nurses have a leadership role to ensure safe quality care for older people in hospital. This leadership role can be framed in interventions that focus on fixing the fit between what older people need and what the hospital environment provides. Modifiable factors for improvement are within the scope and competency of the registered nurse.

Art, music, story: The evaluation of a person‐centred arts in health programme in an acute care older persons’ unit

“…Hospital admission can adversely impact the older person's quality of life, functional status, ability to return home and sometimes their survival (Parke, Hunter, Bostrom, Chambers, & Manraj, ). Hospitals have been criticised for failing to meet the unique and complex needs of older people (Baumbusch, Leblanc, Shaw, & Kjorven, ), and in the fast‐paced, unfamiliar environment, those with cognitive impairment are at higher risk (Heath, Sturdy, & Wilcock, ).…”

The role of the dementia specialist nurse in acute care: a scoping review

“…Parke et al . () also identified a range of specialised consultation teams for older hospitalised adults, including one led by a geriatrician trained in geriatric psychiatry and including a specialised geriatric liaison nurse. The team focused on providing psychogeriatric liaison for medical patients.…”

“…Specialised care units and specialist consultation teams have been associated with improved care for older people in hospital. One scoping review identified eight different specialised care units for older people that commonly included interdisciplinary specialised geriatric resources on designated units (Parke et al 2012). None were focused on patients with dementia, although the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is aimed at reducing delirium in hospitalised older adults and an evaluation found significant improvement in the degree of cognitive impairment among patients with impairment at admission (Inouye et al 1999).…”

“…Spencer and colleagues (Spencer et al 2013) found that a specialist unit which had enhanced staffing from mental health nurses and OT's, the introduction of activities, personalised care plans, improved environment and training and resulted in improved carer satisfaction. Parke et al (2012) also identified a range of specialised consultation teams for older hospitalised adults, including one led by a geriatrician trained in geriatric psychiatry and including a specialised geriatric liaison nurse. The team focused on providing psychogeriatric liaison for medical patients.…”

Development and Validation of the Geriatric In‐Hospital Nursing Care Questionnaire

“…Awareness has increased that the outcome of a hospitalization does not depend solely on the condition of elderly adults, but also on the quality of specific geriatric programs . Delivering high‐quality geriatric care in hospitals requires programs such as Senior‐Friendly Hospitals and Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders . Receiving high‐quality care can prevent the onset of geriatric syndromes, including impaired mobility, falling, delirium, incontinence, and polypharmacy .…”