Senior Services

Memorial Hermann Southwest recognizes that our senior clientele is unique and deserves specialized services dedicated to its needs. We are proud to introduce three new hospital units designed with the needs of senior patients in mind.

Senior Emergency Center

• Our new Senior Emergency Center is located on the 1st floor, near our existing Emergency Center. It serves the emergency medical needs of patients age 55 and older.
• This specialized center offers more privacy and a dedicated medical team. The physicians, nurses, and clinical staff are a group of very passionate caregivers, who strive to provide what patients need in an environment specially designed for seniors.
• Families of senior patients have access to a private waiting room, and patient triage rooms are also larger with amenities such as thicker mattresses, new furniture, and enlarged wall clocks.
• The Senior Emergency Center works very closely with our hospital’s new Senior Medicine unit and Senior Behavioral Care unit to accommodate patients who need to be admitted into the hospital.
  

• For senior patients who have an acute condition requiring hospitalization, we offer a new Senior Medicine Unit, located on the 6th floor of the hospital.
• Our medical staff includes a dedicated, inter-disciplinary team of health care providers. The Senior Medicine team is a group of very passionate caregivers, who constantly meet to re-evaluate processes in order to ensure that the very best patient experiences and expectations are met. We focus on the prevention of complications and promotion of physical function and independence.
• We offer two newly renovated wings of the hospital, designed to meet the medical needs of seniors. The unit provides:
  
  • Comfortable, private hospital beds
  • Highly qualified staff and dedicated nurse practitioner
  • Library and lounge available for family and caregiver use
• Typical Diagnoses admitted to the Senior Medicine unit include patients 55 years or older who experience:
  • Acute pain
  • Altered mental status/delirium
  • Anemia
  • Cellulitis
  • CHF
  • COPD exacerbation
  • Diabetic issues
  • Dizziness, syncope
  • Electrolyte abnormality
  • Falls
  • GI issues/abdominal pain
  • Non-surgical fractures
  • Pneumonia
  • Sepsis/other infections/fever
  • UTI
    *note: These diagnoses are not exhaustive

• For senior patients with psychiatric and medical needs, we offer our new Senior Behavioral Care unit, located on the 8th floor of the hospital.
• Our staff includes a talented, multi-disciplinary team of doctors, social workers, nurses, recreational and occupational therapists, and personal care aides. The team is a group of very dedicated caregivers, who are well trained to assist physicians in the treatment of psychiatric patients. They are available 24 hours/7 days a week to offer a holistic approach to both the medical and psychiatric needs of senior patients.
• We offer two totally remodeled wings of the hospital, designed to meet the need of seniors in a safe, protected, and modern environment. The unit provides:
  • Comfortable, private hospital beds and private bathroom facilities
  • State-of-the-art equipment and security
  • Library and lounge available for quiet time evenings
  • Scheduled groups and therapies necessary for the improvement of mental health issues
• The admission criteria for the Senior Behavioral Care unit includes:
  • 65 years or older
  • A principal psychiatric diagnosis has been made, in addition to diagnostic or medication evaluations/stabilization
  • Patient is cognitively capable of benefiting from treatment, and there is an expectation of improvement in symptoms or behavior
  • Patient may have experienced an abrupt change in behavior
  • Must be able to attend group sessions