Making Health Decisions - VA Geriatrics and Extended Care

What matters most to you when making health care and treatment decisions? Veterans and their caregivers must think about many factors when making care and treatment decisions – choices that meet needs while honoring Veteran priorities.

Focus on Patient Priorities Care

Patient Priorities Care helps patients and their providers focus decision making on what matters most – the Veteran’s priorities. It also recognizes that, when faced with tradeoffs, older adults differ in their own health outcome goals and what they can do to achieve them.

These resources can help you identify your priorities, talk with your providers, or loved ones about them, and make decisions about planning for long term care:

• Conversation Guide for Patients and Caregivers for Identifying their Health Priorities – Guides the Veteran and caregiver when working with the care team to identify and discuss health priorities, such as core life values, health outcome goals and care preferences.
• Patient Summary of Health Priorities – Allows patients to provide a summary of priorities for their care or treatment.
• Tips for Patients to Communicate with Clinicians – Offers tips for talking about priorities and concerns.
• Veteran Decision Aid for Care at Home or in the Community – Helps Veterans think about what matters most when considering long term care choices.
• Caregiver Self-Assessment – Helps caregivers review their roles and responsibilities and evaluate their stress.

Treatment Center Design Centered on Safely Serving Geriatric Population

Developed for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Hancock Geriatric Treatment Center at Eastern State Hospital, Williamsburg, VA, is a 150-bed psychiatric facility specializing in the care of geriatric patients suffering from dementia.

The facility design incorporates the latest advances in evidence-based design and includes special considerations appropriate for this population, reflecting DBHDS’ mission to support individuals by promoting self-determination and wellness in all aspects of life. Special considerations for the geriatric population include:

• Unique color schemes and finishes
• Wayfinding and wider door widths
• A unique building geometry to account for the wandering tendency of geriatric patients, especially those with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia

The layout enables safe circulation while maintaining focus around a central core of patient activity areas. This project was delivered under Virginia’s Public-Private Education and Facilities Act (PPEA) of 2002 and received the National Council for Public Private Partnerships Innovation Award, 2008.

Hancock Geriatric Treatment Center Overview

• Location: Eastern State Hospital, Williamsburg, VA
• Capacity: 150-bed psychiatric facility
• Specialization: Geriatric patients suffering from dementia
• Award: National Council for Public Private Partnerships Innovation Award, 2008