Acute Care of the Elderly

Hackensack Meridian Health’s Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) unit is a model of inpatient care committed to restoring elderly patients to their optimum level of function.

Our highly professional, caring multi-disciplinary team is involved in creating specialized care plans and trained to meet the needs of elderly patients who often demonstrate dementia in addition to their physical ailments. Nurses on the ACE Unit are board certified in gerontological nursing, and collaboration among our specialists provides the best-possible outcomes and diligent, ongoing care for patients.

Early discharge planning is a key focus of our ACE program, as it ensures the transition to life at home is smooth and appropriate support remains available and ongoing.

Residents of our 40-bed state-of-the-art ACE unit typically are 70 or older, with an acute illness and not in need of cardiology or oncology care. Patients admitted include former residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities as well as patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Some of the ACE unit’s special physical environment enhancements and amenities include :

• Recliners and low beds to accommodate physical needs of patients
• Use of up-lighting to reduce glare
• Flat-panel televisions
• Spacious lavatories to reduce falls and accommodate walkers and wheelchairs
• Beds equipped to signal the nursing unit if a patient attempts to move from his/her bed without nursing support

Our direct admission process has been enhanced to facilitate placement of patients directly to the patient unit, unless emergency stabilization is required. This is especially important for ACE unit residents, who often feel threatened in the unfamiliar, fast-paced environment of the Emergency Room.