UC San Diego Opens Senior Emergency Healthcare Unit

The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has announced the opening of a senior emergency care unit that is reportedly the first of its kind in California, reports CNSNews.com . The Gary and Mary West Emergency Department at UCSD Health features chairs with high backs and sturdy arms and legs, as well as acoustics, safety, and comfort enhancements. The unit's 11 rooms have walls that absorb sound to reduce ambient noise, variable illumination, and contrasting wall and floor colors to lower the risk of falling. "The new physical space allows older adults to be cared for in an environment that better meets their needs than a traditional emergency room setting," says Gary and Mary West Senior Emergency Care Unit Director Vaishal Tolia. The Gary and Mary West Health Institute is planning a joint project with UCSD Health through the new medical unit, as seniors treated by emergency room doctors are expected to expand as baby boomers age. "Through our collaboration with UC San Diego Health, we are leading the way to wider adoption of geriatric emergency departments across the nation, ultimately improving outcomes and quality of life for seniors before, during, and after a medical crisis," says West Health Institute CEO Shelley Lyford.