Kennedy Health System

Improving Outcomes for Older Patients

Older adults often need specialized care when they are in the hospital. Kennedy University Hospital’s Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit in Stratford, NJ, is designed to meet the unique needs of hospitalized older adults, while offering support and access to their loved ones. Kennedy’s ACE Unit uses an interdisciplinary approach to help older adults (aged 65 and older) maintain their independence and prevent physical and mental decline while receiving treatment for acute illnesses.

Our ACE Unit Interdisciplinary team provides daily care planning with constant family updates, and is staffed with a full compliment of healthcare professionals including: Geriatricians, Geriatric Nurse Practitioners, Geriatric trained nurses and nursing assistants, specially trained Pharmacists, Home Care Nurses, Case Mangers, Social Workers and Physical, Occupational and Speech & Swallow Therapists.

Kennedy – Stratford’s ACE Unit provides these services to help our older patients return to a productive, meaningful life as quickly as possible. We work collaboratively to achieve these goals:

• Optimum functioning of mind and body
• Emphasis on patient dignity and comfort
• Meet both patient needs and preferences
• Simple admission/discharge processes
• Minimal stress from hospitalization
• Minimal re-admissions
• Clear, constant communication
• Presentation of all relevant medical options
• Clear follow up treatment plan upon discharge
• Safe return to home or living facility

Specialized Services Geared Towards the Elderly

Kennedy Health System in conjunction with UMDNJ offers several services to meet the specialized needs of our elderly population. Most services can be utilized by self-referrals.

• Urgent care at the Stratford Hospital Emergency Room. The Stratford ER has a specialized area to care for geriatric patients, offering reduced wait times, increased privacy, special bedding, natural lighting and reduced noise levels. In addition, our ER nurses have GENE training (Geriatric Emergency Nursing Education) through the Emergency Nurses Association making them ideal for assisting elderly patients.
• The Balance Center helps with diagnosis and treatment of balance disorders that can affect the quality of life for seniors.
• Sleep Center offers comfortable, modern facilities with the most advanced technology available to diagnose sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, and other sleep disorders.
• Physical and Occupational Therapy provides the highest quality rehabilitative therapy to for in-patients and those needing outpatient treatment.
• Kennedy Diabetes Control Centers provide outpatient training in diabetes care and self-management using the expertise of an experienced and highly trained healthcare staff comprised of Certified Diabetes Educators, Registered Nurses and Registered Dietitians.
• Kennedy Nutrition Education Center offers individual and group sessions delivered by highly-skilled and specially trained Registered Dietitians that can address issues particular to the elderly.
• Kennedy Home Health Care provides a multidisciplinary team of registered nurses, therapists, and aides to provide comprehensive, safe and effective care where patients feel best – at home.
• Center for Wound Healing uses proven wound care practices and advanced clinical approaches, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, to help patients who suffer from chronic wounds.

NICHE Designation

Kennedy University Hospital in Stratford, NJ, has received designation as a NICHE Hospital. The NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) designation indicates a hospital's commitment to elder care excellence.

The NICHE designation recognizes Kennedy’s dedication to providing patient-centered care for older adult patients through its 12-bed ACE (Adult Care for Elders) Unit, which opened in 2011.

NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) is the leading nurse driven program designed to help hospitals improve the care of older adults. The vision of NICHE is for all patients 65-and-over to be given sensitive and exemplary care. The mission of NICHE is to provide principles and tools to stimulate a change in the culture of healthcare facilities to achieve patient-centered care for older adults. NICHE, based at NYU College of Nursing and comprised of almost 450 hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout North America, engages hospitals and their affiliates in achieving and sustaining the NICHE designation. NICHE designation demonstrates a hospital's organizational commitment and continued progress in improving quality, enhancing the patient and family experience, and supporting the hospital's efforts to serve their communities.

ACE Unit Tours

Tours of the ACE Unit are encouraged to allow potential patients and their families, physicians and medical facilities to become more familiar with our staff and the services we provide. Facility tours are available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm by appointment.

Click here to schedule a tour or to request more information about the ACE Unit.