title: [Implementation of a palliative care concept in a geriatric acute care hospital].
abstract: To integrate palliative care patients into an acute geriatric ward requires extensive and continuous education and preparation of all participating professionals. It can be a lengthy process to integrate palliative care concepts despite cooperation of the hospital administration. The group of patients to be integrated differs from the patients of regular geriatric wards because of a higher percentage of relatively young oncologic patients and they differ from a regular palliative ward because about 50% are non-oncologic patients, while the average age is much higher than in normal palliative care. It is possible to integrate specialized palliative care into a regular geriatric ward. Patients admitted without palliative intention will benefit the most from ward-integrated palliative care if the treatment aim turns this way. Ward-integrated palliative care can be an integral part of treating geriatric patients in addition to acute geriatric medicine, rehabilitation, and prevention. It can also provide caretakers and patients with the benefits from continuity of treatment and care.
authors.affiliation: AGAPLESION Bethesda Klinik Ulm, Zollernring 26, 89073, Ulm, Germany. Ulrich.gruen@bethesda-ulm.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hagg-Grün
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.forename: B-N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: H-R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Klaiber
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikolaus
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education; D005858:Germany; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*