Michigan Medicine - Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)

Mission: To assist older adult patients in remaining as independent as possible during their hospital stay.

Michigan Medicine, part of the University of Michigan, is one of the nation’s leading healthcare institutions, renowned for its exceptional patient care, advanced medical research, and training of healthcare professionals. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the health system includes the University of Michigan Hospital, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, and the U-M Medical School. It provides comprehensive medical services, offering cutting-edge treatments and specialized care across a wide range of disciplines, from primary care to complex surgeries, cancer care, and cardiovascular services.

Through Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), the hospital becomes a place where older patients can feel as secure as possible as they participate in treatment and maintain control over their own recuperation. The program is a service provided free of charge to those who are eligible.

Geriatricians, a Hospital Elder Life Program Social Work manager, and specially trained volunteers work together to protect older patients from experiencing the potential loss of independence that may occur as an outcome of a hospital stay. Our staff works as a team to address the individual needs of each patient. HELP volunteers are part of a team that truly make a difference every single day for our older adults who are admitted, and build upon their own clinical skills at the same time with independent hands-on patient care. Our Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) volunteer experience provides individuals with hospital inpatient care exposure through contact with patients, family members, other volunteers, social work, and hospital staff on nursing units. Students or community adults will gain experience assessing a patient’s medical condition, cognitive status and physical functioning. They will learn how to coordinate a care plan and provide related interventions.

HELP goals include:

• To keep patients fully oriented throughout hospital stay
• To prevent confusion and delirium as possible
• To address patients’ needs or concerns
• To improve communication and patient satisfaction

To meet program goals, we provide the following services:

• Daily Visitor Program – Daily visits designed to maintain alertness and orientation through socialization and companionship
• Therapeutic Activities Program – Provides stimulating and enjoyable activities and materials
• Early Mobilization Program – Provides daily assistance with walking and exercise
• Feeding & Meal Assistance Program – Companionship and assistance at meal time if necessary
• Relaxation Program – Designed to assist our patients with relaxation and sleep without the use of medication: including massage, relaxation tapes, bedside musician, or other relaxation resources