Seniors account for 63% of all acute inpatient days and 43% of all provincial health expenditures in Ontario. Hospitalization, and its outcomes, can become a pivotal event in a senior's life, particularly if the experience is not aligned with the unique health needs and characteristics of seniors. They face a two-fold risk for adverse events and surgical complications, loss of independence, increased lengths of stay and rate of re-admission, and account for 50% of all nosocomial infections. Approximately 15-22% of seniors will develop hospital-acquired delirium.

In recent years, staff affiliated with the RGPs of Ontario have developed a conceptual framework for senior friendly hospitals in order to optimize the health and resource outcomes for Ontario's seniors. The framework builds upon the preliminary work of the Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario (Ottawa).

This component of our website is intended to introduce the conceptual framework, and the toolkit of resources being developed by the RGPs of Ontario to assist organizations in becoming senior friendly hospitals.

Briefing on Quality and Safety in an Elder Friendly Hospital and a Proposal for a National Think Tank - April 4, 2011
View the Senior Friendly Hospital presentation