When 92 year old, Marcelle, fell at home and required a trip to a local emergency room (ER), she didn't think about the additional stress she would experience of being in the hustle, bustle environment of a typical ER. Yet, for individuals with difficultly hearing, seeing or moving, an ERs harsh environment can increase anxiety and decrease the level of communication between patient and physician.As the aging population continues to increase in our country, hospitals are stepping up to address the specific needs of our senior population. One such advancement is the increase in Senior Emergency Rooms. A Senior ER is an emergency room specializing in the treatment of patients 65 and older. This patient population typically presents with a unique set of needs that many traditional ERs are not currently addressing.Many of these Senior ERs offer physical enhancements such as nonskid flooring; beds with thicker, pressure-reducing mattresses; softer room lighting; a quieter environment; hearing and visual aids; and walkers or other assistive devices. Additionally, the nurses dedicated to a Senior ER typically go through specialized education and physicians and nurses take workshops in sensory appreciation and ageism to learn how to better communicate with older adults and their caregivers.Most importantly, the implementation of a new philosophy of care for the geriatric patient is at the heart of these programs. By design, clinicians are instructed to perform a variety of screenings relevant to the senior patient and follow up with every patient after they have returned home. This extra contact is intended to help lower readmission rates and reduce the risk of harmful drug interactions, which provides higher quality and more cost-effective care.The combination of both a new practice philosophy and senior focused amenities provides a much needed service to our unique senior population.The Exempla Senior ER at Lutheran Medical Center is currently the only Senior ER in the state of Colorado.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Wendy Forbes for Exempla Lutheran Senior ER. For more information contact them at 303-425-4500 or visit their website at www.exemplaseniorER.org

AS DWIGHT HAPEMAN LAY IN A LUTHERAN MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL BED RECOVERING FROM TRIPLE BYPASS SURGERY, he promised himself three things: (1) He'd get well again. (2) He'd volunteer to help other cardiac patients. (3) He'd meet his partner in life. All loft goals, but he was feeling lucky.Hapeman, of Aurora, knew what he had to do to get well, because he'd done it just a few months before. In March 2007, a routine EKG had revealeddamage to his heart from a previous, silent heart attack. A subsequent cardiac catheterization and stenting procedure revealed that two of his arteries were significantly blocked.WAKE-UP CALLI was completely shocked, he says. I never had any symptoms, and I thought I was healthy. But I knew I had to take this seriously. Hapeman committed to Lutherans Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Program,where he participated in monitored exercise sessions with a caring, knowledgeable staff; classes on nutrition, stress management and other health topics; andsupport groups. He lost almost 50 pounds and was feeling great. And then, in October, he had a massive heart attack. This time, I had all ofthe typical symptoms nausea, chest pain and breathlessness, he says. After the emergency triple bypass saved his life, Hapeman recommitted to outpatient rehab to get healthy again.PROMISES KEPTToday, Hapeman, 63, has kept all three promises. He's healthy and fi t, weighing in at 160 pounds. He leads Lutherans cardiac support group and visits patientsat hospitals throughout Denver as a volunteer with Mended Hearts, the oldest national cardiac support group in the U.S. Visiting other cardiac rehab programs has given him a new appreciation forLutheran. The level of personalized care that patients receive at Lutheran is truly special, he says. Promise No. 3 was fulfilled on a beach in Fort Lauderdale in January 2011, whenhe married his wife, Maggie (they're shown together above). Coincidentally, Maggie is a former cardiac nurse and is now a hospice nurse in Aurora.There is life after a heart attack even two heart attacksMENDING HEARTSTo learn more about Lutheran Medical Centers cardiac rehabilitation programs, please call 303-403-3604Editors Note: This article was submitted by Lutheran Medical Center. We can be reached at 303-430-3059.

Hospice care focuses on controlling pain and other symptoms of illness so patients can remain as comfortable as possible near the end of life. Hospice care is highly individualized based on the persons goals for end-of-life care. The hospice team is comprised of doctors, nurses, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), social workers, clergy and volunteers. Expenses may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid or other health insurance plans.There are many misconceptions regarding hospice and hospice care. Some of the most common are:Hospice is a place.Truth: Hospice is not a place, but rather a philosophy of care in which medical, psychological and spiritual support are provided to patients and their families. Hospice care can be provided in a variety of settings, including a persons home, assisted living, nursing homes, hospice in-patient care centers and hospitals.Home hospice always provides a nurse around the clock.Truth: In home hospice, patients receive visits from nurses, certified nursing assistants, chaplains, social workers and volunteers several times per week, but around the clock care in the home setting is not common. Nursing staff is typically on-call 24 hours a day to provide support to patients. Additional resources for care may be needed, such as a non-medical home health care or private duty nursing if the person is in need of 24 hour care at home. 24 hour nursing oversight and care is provided in hospitals, nursing homes and in hospice acute in-patient care centers.If I choose hospice, I am giving up.Truth: Hospice focuses on caring and comforting, not curing. The goal of hospice is neither to hasten nor postpone death. If the persons condition improves, hospice can be discontinued. Choosing hospice does not mean giving up, but rather that the goals of treatment have changed.Many patients and families have chosen hospice care and resources to support them through an end-of-life journey or health crisis. It can be the right option for some patients when the time comes.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Robin Hartman of Liaison-Marketing for Exempla Lutheran Hospice at the Collier Hospice Center. For more information Robin may be reached at 303-425-8000 or by email Hartmanr@sclhs.net