ACE Unit (Acute Care for Elders)

Program Description:

San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center is initiating an ACE Unit (Acute Care for Elders) which is a geriatric-specific model of care for older patients that require hospitalization. Older Americans account for nearly 13% of the population and that number is expected to double in the next 20 years. The ACE Unit features a geriatric-friendly environment that is focused on safety, management of geriatric syndromes, and rehabilitation. The ACE Unit model has been proven to increase patient and staff satisfaction, and most importantly affect the older adult's quality of life in a positive manner through its coordinated holistic approach.

To meet the needs of our older patients, the ACE Unit will group older patients together in a comfortable homelike environment, offering patients opportunities for activities and socializing with other patients in the unit. All of the unit's staff have experience with the complex needs of older patients, and the multidisciplinary team will receive ongoing training in geriatric-specific issues as they evolve.