Staying healthy as you age starts with making your health a priority, and regular medical care can help older adults stay active, manage chronic conditions, catch problems earlier, and maintain their independence. September’s Healthy Aging Month is a good reminder to take a closer look at the care you receive and whether it continues to meet your needs as you get older.
University Medical Center of El Paso’s values our elderly community and has multiple certified geriatricians able to help make aging a healthy experience. They are available and ready at our community clinics in east and west El Paso. Appointments can be made by calling (915) 790-5700.
For older adults, routine care can become more important as health needs change. Medications may need to be adjusted, mobility can become a concern, and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or memory problems may require closer monitoring. Having a healthcare provider who understands these changes can help patients stay on top of their health instead of waiting until a problem becomes an emergency.
Routine Care
Regular appointments allow patients and their healthcare providers to keep track of changes in health over time. This can include reviewing medications, monitoring chronic conditions, discussing mobility or fall concerns, and addressing changes in memory, mood, or daily activities.
UMC provides geriatric care where older adults can receive care designed around the health needs that often come with aging. UMC’s outpatient clinics have earned Level 2 Age-Friendly: Committed to Care Excellence recognition from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. The program focuses on four areas known as the “4Ms”: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility.
Emergency Care
When an older adult comes to the emergency department, their needs may be different from those of younger patients. Factors such as medications, mobility, cognitive changes, fall risk, and other age-related factors can affect how care is provided.
UMC’s Emergency Department has earned Level 2 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). According to ACEP, Level 2 accreditation recognizes emergency departments that have integrated and sustained care initiatives for older adults into their daily operations and demonstrate interdisciplinary cooperation in providing senior-friendly services.
At UMC, this work includes specialized geriatric training for staff and screenings designed to identify concerns such as cognitive impairment and fall risk.
Healthy aging is not only about treating illness
UMC is also expanding its focus on geriatric care. A new geriatric clinic planned for Central El Paso will bring together several services, including geriatric medicine, pharmacy, audiology, laboratory services, and rehabilitation. The goal is to make it easier for older adults to receive multiple types of care in one location.
For older adults and their families in El Paso, having access to age-focused care can make navigating healthcare a little easier. Whether it is time for a routine visit or an unexpected trip to the emergency department, UMC continues to build services around the changing healthcare needs of the community’s older adults.
Stay connected with UMC’s events, initiatives and community recognition. Visit umcelpaso.org to learn more, register for upcoming events or celebrate our latest achievements.
