Older patients trigger new ideas for health care facilities

News outlets report on innovations in the design of health care facilities that respond to the needs of older patients. 

MSNBC: Emergency Rooms Designed For The Older Set
At Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, he found thick mattresses to prevent bedsores, skid-proof floors, and curtains designed to produce less noise. It's only a few examples of the features designed specifically for senior citizens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals 65 years and older typically make up nearly 25 percent of adult emergency room visits. The creation of the geriatric centered emergency department, or geri-ed, at Mount Sinai Hospital represents a shift towards catering to the health needs of the growing aging population (Ho and Snyderman, 4/22).

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: Maryland's First Green House Project Nursing Home Aids Low-Income Seniors
What was once a novel idea for  longterm care for the elderly -; small, homey facilities of 10 to 12 residents each -; is now a model cropping up around the country (Kulkarni, 4/20).