Firelands part of national age-friendly initiative

SANDUSKY — Firelands Regional Medical Center recently announced that it's part of a nationwide movement called the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative. Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States. The initiative aims to improve health care for older adults. Firelands Regional Medical Center represents one of nine Ohio hospitals recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System. "Our age-friendly focus tailors care to our patients, and that's why we are participating in this vital movement," said Melissa Fries, director of care management at Firelands Health. "We look forward to both sharing our best practices and learning what's working for others, providing age-friendly care," Fries added. "Data is being gathered from an international group of more than 5,200 hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, home health agencies and primary and specialty care settings." The initiative is based on the four Ms, a series of practices focused on addressing four essential elements of care for older patients. The statement gives some additional context: • What Matters: "Know and align care with each older adult's specific health outcome goals and care preferences, including but not limited to end-of-life care and across settings of care. • Medication: "If medication is necessary, use age-friendly medications that do not interfere with what matters to the older adult, mobility or mentation across settings of care." • Mentation: "Prevent, identify, treat and manage dementia, depression and delirium across settings of care." • Mobility: "Ensure that older adults move safely every day to maintain function and do what matters. "This movement has the potential to create a new standard of care for older adults, which will greatly benefit our aging population," said Jenna Recker, the accreditation and regulatory project coordinator of Firelands Health.