Studies Find Nurse-Led Program Improves Care of Older Adults

A review in The Gerontologist determined the Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) program improved senior care on multiple levels, reports Medical Xpress . NICHE is a nurse-directed education and consultation program to help healthcare organizations enhance the quality of care for older adults. The researchers reviewed 43 studies published between January 1992 and April 2019, collectively representing NICHE program-related evidence across settings involving 12,254 older adults and more than 50,000 nurses and other healthcare professionals. The investigators determined specialized older adult care led to better quality of care and safety, and lowered complications and length of hospitalization. The NICHE program's benefits to member sites improved the care of hospitalized seniors by addressing specific issues, like falls, potentially inappropriate medications, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and dementia symptom management. The review also showed that deploying geriatric resource nurse models significantly improved culture within organizations, while enhancing nursing knowledge about specific health issues in older adults. "In light of the growing needs in the U.S. and around the world, it has never been more important for NICHE and other programs geared toward improving health outcomes for older adults to have strong evidence on how to empower geriatric specialists to provide the best care," said Catherine D'Amico at the New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing.