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Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) is expanding its Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) through a multi-year rollout across multiple inpatient units.
The HELP program launched in 2024 and is an integral part of MGH’s Senior Friendly Strategy, which ensures older adults receive thoughtful, evidence-based and dignified care.
Older adults can experience unique vulnerabilities and medical conditions. One of these is delirium, which is a common and debilitating condition of mental and cognitive decline that can occur during hospital stays.
HELP uses several proactive strategies to prevent delirium, including daily visits, early mobilization, therapeutic activities (such as arts and crafts, puzzles), sleep support strategies and mealtime assistance.
"What I love about HELP is how it transforms the way we work together,” says Karen Kerry Manager, J5 Complex Continuing Care at MGH. “Teams across the hospital are connecting and sharing ideas – most recently with the Stavro Emergency Department (ED) - to find the best ways to support older patients throughout their hospital journey.”
A recent intervention includes the distribution of Seniors Wellness Kits. These kits give patients a secure and easily accessible place to store their glasses and hearing aids. These items are essential for daily functioning but can be easily misplaced in a hospital setting, contributing to discomfort and possibly confusion. The kits help patients maintain a sense of independence and normalcy during their stay.
“As a physician, I’m always thinking about delirium prevention and management,” shares Dr. Katherine Stanley, Staff Physician, Inpatient Lead, Division of General Internal Medicine at MGH. “The support and stimulation patients receive through HELP during daytime hours is tremendously beneficial for improving their activity levels, which in turn improves their rest at night. All of this goes a long way to prevent delirium.”
“This program embodies what we mean by high-quality and compassionate care," says Jennifer Sampson, Director of Seniors and Aging and Transitional Care at MGH. "We're not only treating medical conditions but caring for the whole person, because our approach recognizes that older adults have unique physical, emotional and cognitive needs during a hospital stay.”
Deanna Rosolen, Activation Coordinator, Complex Continuing Care and Rehab at MGH, is one of the co-leads of HELP. As the first staff member dedicated to the program, she has experienced positive effects on patients firsthand.
“One story stands out to me from early on in the program,” Rosolen says. “We had a patient who was an artist, but her dementia was progressing and she was becoming confused. Initially, she didn’t want to paint.”
“But we discovered that she loved teaching. So, I became her student. A few times a week, I’d sit with her, and she’d teach me how to paint – showing me techniques, explaining her process. Now, I wasn’t the most talented student, but you could see the transformation in her.”
“Her daughter later shared with me how much those sessions meant. It gave her mother a sense of purpose she’d been missing. She became more alert, started talking about going home to finish her paintings. That’s when I understand what the program could do – it helps people rediscover who they are.”
Since its launch in September 2024, HELP has grown rapidly, supporting over 1,900 patients and providing more than 6,500 therapeutic interventions across participating units.
HELP relies on volunteers and externs to provide this support to patients. The program currently engages about 20 trained volunteers and 12 to 15 externs, most of whom are studying nursing or occupational therapy.
Donors have contributed toward the cost of training volunteers and the purchase of supplies used to engage patients, such as tablets, lifelike robotic pets, jigsaw puzzles, crafts and much more.
“Feedback from patients and their families has been overwhelmingly positive. Families have shared with staff how their loved ones seem more alert and engaged. We're grateful to volunteers, activation coordinators and donors who provide vital support; making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients every day.” says Sampson.
MGH is expanding the HELP program, with implementation across General Internal Medicine units (H7 and T9), the Stavro Emergency Department (ED) and the Surgery Inpatient Unit (T6) already underway.
“As much as we’d like to, doctors and nurses don’t always have the time to provide this kind of companionship to patients, who may be lonely and experiencing confusion during a hospital stay. Knowing that HELP is there to provide this dedicated care and support – it means so much to our care teams because it provides so much value,” says Dr. Stanley.
The expansion of HELP is part of MGH's broader Senior Friendly Strategy and commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care. As the program continues to grow, it ensures that older patients receive care that supports not just their physical health, but their cognitive and emotional well-being throughout their hospital journey.
Interested in volunteering with the HELP program at MGH? Learn more.
