A few words in an older adult's chart can paint a picture that can have a detrimental impact on their quality of life.  For people living with dementia or for those who have other behavioural issues, using words like " agitated"  and "aggressive" could alter their treatment paths and options.

The "Your Health Matters" blog "Provide health care to older adults? The words you use matter" offers insights and practical tips, and includes a link to T oronto Academic Health Science Network's (TASHN) helpful guide, "Person Centred Language for Responsive Behaviours".  

Click here to read the blog post.

Dr. Edward R. Marcantonio, M.D. who presented on delirium at one of our SFH ACTION events last year, recently published "Delirium in Hospitalized Older Adults" in the New England Journal of Medicine.  In this state of the art review,  Dr. Marcantonio uses a case study to  illustrate this common clinical problem, and provides evidence-based strategies for diagnosis, evaluation, management and prevention. 

Click here to read the article. 

Ja cobi Elliott, Project Lead - Changing CARE, St. Joseph's Health Care London and  Research Scientist, University of Waterloo

Kimberly Chetwynd,  Project Manager, Sustainability Project Office, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre 

This webinar will provide a brief review of the evidence on best approaches when engaging patients and family in the co-design of senior-friendly healthcare practices, and will profile 2 local initiatives. 

Click here for more information and to register.

You don't always need a large-scale quality improvement initiative to make meaningful, evidence-based changes to the care you provide; sometimes the change is so simple, you can "just do it".

The UK is a leader when it comes to the "just do it" concept. They birthed #endPJParalysis (getting patients dressed and moving), and "Fab Change Week" (adapted by Health Quality Ontario as "Change Day Ontario", where individuals or groups pledge to make a difference to the way they provide care).

With the launch of the new sfCare Framework and work underway on resources and initiatives to help you implement it, many of you are asking "what can we do right now?" We encourage you to reflect on the 31 statements and look for "just do it" opportunities.  An example observed today - a clinician was asked to help an older adult find their way to a doctor's office in a hospital, but they both struggled to find the room number on the appointment sheet because it was buried in the address line, in 6 point font. Just do it - make important information easy to find, and use 12-14 point font.

Do you have tips or tools to share with the senior friendly care network, or challenges you need help with?  Click here to connect with a coach.