Four Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals received the highest designation in caring for older patients by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

The Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California that were recognized as a level 2 Age-Friendly Health System are Roseville, Fresno, San Rafael, and Redwood City. They were among 252 hospitals nationwide to make the age-friendly list.

This designation means the hospitals effectively use evidence-based standards to focus on meeting the needs and desires of older patients and their families.

“We know how important it is to meet our patients’ needs, and Marin County has a large aging population with many needing care and treatment for health issues,” said Naveen Kumar, MD, physician in chief at the Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center. “Our physicians, nurses, and staff are ready to address common aging concerns, including memory loss, managing medications, and ways to stay independent at home. We want our senior patients to live their fullest lives for years to come.”

The four standards used in awarding the designation are:

• honoring health goals and preferences,
• ensuring proper medication management,
• screening for and addressing cognitive issues such as delirium, dementia and depression, and
• helping patients maintain mobility and prevent falls.

According to the 2020 United States Census, about 18% of the population — 1 in 6  — is age 65 and older. This population is increasing: By 2054, approximately 23% of the population (85 million people) will be age 65 and older.

At the Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center, Shahzad Jahromi, MD said the recognition is a testament to the commitment of caregivers to provide safe, quality care to a growing, older population of patients.

“Tailoring care to meet the specific individual needs of our seniors is a top priority and is essential to achieving positive health outcomes,” Dr. Jahromi said.

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