NEW SERVICE IS A BRIDGE TO RECOVERY FOR OLDER ADULTS RETURNING HOME FROM SEQUOIA HOSPITAL

REDWOOD CITY, CA – March 8, 2010 – Beginning March 8, older adults leaving Sequoia Hospital will benefit from an innovative, multifaceted program designed to bridge the gap between discharge from the hospital and a strong recovery. The new program will enable seniors to recuperate successfully and independently at home. Called Sequoia Hospital Homecoming Project (SHHP), the service is a collaboration between the Hospital and six non-profit organizations in the community.

“Right after a hospitalization, older adults are very vulnerable,” says Marie Violet, manager of the Health & Wellness Center at Sequoia Hospital. “It is exciting to see these groups coming together, each doing what they do best, to provide the services and support so these individuals can recover in a safe environment at home.”

Community non-profit organizations participating in the program include the Family Service Agency of San Mateo County, HIP Housing, Peninsula Volunteers, Inc., Rebuilding Together Peninsula, Samaritan House and Second Harvest Food Bank. The six agencies will work together to provide seamless care for adults after a hospitalization. Services provided include bilingual case management, assistance with housing needs and basic home services; home delivered meals upon leaving the hospital; help with home repair; weekly groceries; self-care management skills training, and transportation referrals.

Candidates for the service will be identified by case managers and social workers at Sequoia Hospital. They include vulnerable individuals age 50 or older who live in Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Atherton, Menlo Park, Woodside or Portola Valley.

The transitional care service is being seeded by a $94,000 community grant awarded by Sequoia Hospital through the Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) Community Grants program. The concept was the brain child of Sequoia Hospital’s Community Advisory Committee, a group of local citizens who provide input on the Hospital’s efforts to benefit the community. It is part of the Sequoia Hospital’s Community Benefit Initiative called Healthy Aging in Place.

“I commend the Council for recognizing this critical need and coming up with the idea to invite interested organizations to collaborate in creating and implementing a practical, comprehensive solution,” adds Violet.

Transitional support services like SHHP will be in increasingly greater demand as our population ages. It is estimated that, by 2030, there will be a 33 percent increase in the number of residents age 85 and older living in San Mateo County.

About Sequoia Hospital

Sequoia Hospital is an accredited, not-for-profit community hospital providing innovative and exceptional healthcare to Bay Area residents. With a nationwide reputation for pioneering advanced cardiac care, Sequoia is designated as a 2009 Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California. Sequoia also excels in the areas of stroke care, emergency services, and birth center services. Voted “A Family Favorite 2009 Best Hospital” by readers of Bay Area Parent magazine, Sequoia ranks in the top percentile of U.S. hospitals for patient satisfaction and is a leader in quality and safety initiatives. To learn more, please visit: www.SequoiaHospital.org

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