Results
Life: Act 2, in its early stages of implementation, has already accomplished the following:
Transitional Care Projects to Benefit Seniors
- A partnership with the area's four primary hospitals (Mayo Clinic, Shands Jacksonville, St. Vincent's Medical Center, and Baptist Health) formed to identify strategies to integrate the hospital admission and discharge processes with the community's social service system for seniors.
- In May 2007 at Baptist Health, the Elder Care Advocate Program was launched to coordinate the care of older patients that is often required upon discharge. The program expanded to Shands Jacksonville in September 2007. Essentially, the Elder Care Advocate communicates with hospital discharge planners and social workers to arrange appropriate care for identified seniors and their caregivers and to purchase short-term services for seniors to aid in their transition home. Services include home-delivered meals, emergency response systems, travel to medical appointments, homemaking assistance, and other relevant help.
- The Elder Care Advocate Program has been able to provide services and connect over 1000 vulnerable patients to community agencies and resources, promoting better outcomes for senior patients.
- From a sustainability and system improvement perspective, we are extremely pleased to report that this past year, Baptist Medical Center chose to sustain and expand the Elder Care Advocate program. Baptist has established an Elder Care office, hired a full-time Elder Care Advocate, created a transitional services funding pool, and employed a part-time Elder Care Consultant. In the coming months, these improvements will expand Baptist’s three other hospital campuses across the First Coast.
- Our second hospital partner, Shands Jacksonville, is currently expanding the program to serve a specific population of seniors living with Congestive Heart Failure. This program may result in an enhanced discharge standard for this vulnerable population.
- Annually, $100,000 is invested to reduce the waiting list for home-delivered meals.
- Over one million new dollars was leveraged to invest in senior services.
- Over $200,000 was invested in community intergenerational activities.
- Over $100,000 was invested to create or expand multiple neighborhood projects designed to engage seniors in meaningful community activities.
For more info, contact Jean Burhans, Director/Life: Act 2, at 904.390.3292
