Improve Patient Engagement in Older Patients

You can improve patient engagement in older patients by helping them view aging in a positive way. This coming month, “September is Healthy Aging® Month,” offers a special opportunity to do just that!

Here are a few ways you can improve patient engagement in older patients:

Celebrate Aging
“September is Healthy Aging® Month” is meant to draw attention to the positive aspects of aging and to assure people that it’s never too late to make healthy lifestyle changes. Older patients should be encouraged to take control of their health at any age.

You may also wish to celebrate grandparents this next month, as Grandparents Day falls in September as well. Remind older patients of the need to maintain their health so that they can continue to benefit their grandchildren’s lives for many years to come! And make sure they know that this special relationship can benefit their health, too. (Check out our previous blog on additional monthly health observances.)

Emphasize Prevention, Rather Than Reaction
Some of the most prevalent health issues affecting older patients, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart disease, malnutrition, and injuries from falls, are potentially preventable. Yet, per the CDC, only 7% of older adults obtain all their recommended preventive health services.

Our blogs on increasing preventive screenings for men, improving male patient engagement, and increasing mammogram appointments can provide you with some excellent ideas for promoting preventive health services at your facility.

Improve Family Engagement
Family engagement can be especially important for older patients who may have family caregivers. Family caregivers play a significant role in older patients’ safety and comfort. Plus, patient and family satisfaction are related.

Address the Social Determinants of Health
Some of the social determinants of health may affect older patients in different ways than younger patients. For example, patient transportation needs, patient housing needs, and dietary needs often change as patients age.

Provide Technology Information
A 2018 AARP survey found that 76% of U.S. adults aged 50-plus want to stay in their own homes as they age. Many older patients also want and believe they need access to health technology to manage their healthcare. Educate patients and their families about technology that can help them achieve these goals and keep them safe.

Implement the 4M Framework
The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative encourages healthcare facilities to embrace the 4M’s when caring for older patients:

What Matters – Aligning care with the patient and family’s health goals.

Medication – Choosing age-friendly medications that don’t hinder the other three “M’s” of the framework.

Mentation – Addressing dementia, depression, and delirium.

Mobility – Ensuring patients move safely every day.

According to the Population Reference Bureau, there were 46 million Americans (15% of the population) aged 65 and older in 2016 and that number is expected to more than double by 2060, to over 98 million (24% of the population).

As the American Hospital Association pointed out in its publication “Creating Age-Friendly Health Systems,” improving care for older patients now can put your hospital “ahead of the curve” as the healthcare market shifts to accommodate our aging population.

September is the perfect time for exploring new policies that will improve patient engagement in older patients and ensure they have the best possible care at your facility all year round.