The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Halton Healthcare launches Hospital Elder Life Program at OTMH This month, the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) will be launching its Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). The initiative offers a new approach to provide care for older adults with the goal of preventing delirium and functional decline. "We are thrilled to be introducing the Hospital Elder Life Program at OTMH," said Kim Kohlberger, director of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics at Halton Healthcare. "As our population ages and the needs of our older patients increases, programs such as this will help to enhance the well-being and safety of our patients. We are pleased to include HELP as an integral part of our Safer Elder Care initiatives." According to the Mississauga Halton LHIN website, over the next 10 years, the percentage of people aged 75 and older will grow by approximately 55 per cent. That growth will create more demands on the health-care system and challenges to improve the care of patients and seniors. Created by geriatrician Dr. Sharon Inouye from Yale University, HELP is meant to: · maintain the cognitive and physical functioning of patients throughout hospitalization; 49 | Thursday, April 21, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com We are thrilled to be introducing the Hospital Elder Life Program at OTMH. As our population ages and the needs of our older patients increases, programs such as this will help to enhance the well-being and safety of our patients. We are pleased to include HELP as an integral part of our Safer Elder Care initiatives. Director of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Halton Healthcare of equipment volunteers could use to assist patients of the HELP program mentally, physically and socially. "The Oakville Hospital Volunteer Association and our volunteers exist to serve our hospital and its patients in many meaningful ways. We are so very pleased to support the Hospital Elder Care Program in this way," said Patte Seaton, OHVA president. HELP program features Elements of the HELP program include: · daily visits to promote orientation and socialization; · therapeutic activities to keep patients mentally stimulated during their hospital stay; · early mobilization to provide daily walking assistance and exercises; · feeding assistance at mealtime to offer companionship and help as needed; · the use of a natural approach to sleep enhancement; · reminder to use hearing and vision aids if necessary. For more information, visit www. haltonhealthcare.com or follow @ HaltonHlthcare on Twitter. Kim Kohlberger Kim Kohlberger · allow patients to be discharged from the hospital as independently as possible; · assist with the transition from the hospital to the community; · prevent unplanned readmissions. Two Elder Life Specialists at OTMH, Gaye Morgan and Shirley Coughlin, serve as co-ordinators of the program and design patient-specific activities that are carried out up to three times a day by trained HELP volunteers. "Volunteers play a crucial, central role in this program by carrying out program interventions directly at the bedside," Inouye said in a media release. "The volunteers are not the frosting on the cake, but rather they are the cake." OHVA donates $2K to help HELP Late last month, the Oakville Hospital Volunteer Association (OHVA) donated $2,000 to OTMH to help fund the purchase For more news, visit insidehalton.com/oakville-on. `Like' the Oakville Beaver on Facebook. Host a Community Partner Event Hosting an event in support of Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital is a great way to ensure OTMH caregivers have the medical equipment they require to care for our patients. Since the government funds virtually no clinical equipment, our hospital relies on the support of our entire community to help us acquire these vital items. We can help! Oakville Hospital Foundation staff will be able to provide guidance and support to make your event a success. Whether you choose to plan a company golf tournament, organize a garage sale, or host a party, your efforts can make all the difference in improving healthcare in your community. Please call 905.338.4642 or visit us online at www.oakvillehospitalfoundation.com for more information. Get involved and make a difference in your community