Starting a Hospital Elder Life Program

Hospitals that are interested in replicating HELP should consider the steps involved in doing so. This also includes our comprehensive start-up, training and evaluation materials we have developed to assist other facilities with starting a new HELP site.There are many sites using our materials, thereby providing a peer group of institutions with which to share experiences.

If you are interested, create a HELP account by clicking on "Become a HELP Site". Once you do so you will be able to login to the Private sections which contains all of the manuals, tools, materials and resources needed to replicate HELP. Staff from your hospital who are interested in the program should review all of these materials thoroughly to develop a good understanding of the content of the program and to consider how it will “fit” with your hospital.

Then follow these steps:

1. Building the case for your program:

• The first step in our structured process is to develop the business case for HELP using the HELP Business Planning manual and tools .

2. Setting up the program:

• Once you have received administrative support and funding for your site, then you will begin the implementation stage. Consider working with a HELP Center of Excellence, or ask questions on Google Groups.
• Internal Review Board (IRB) Process - if required at your site. We have a sample template to assist you. IRB approval may not be required at many sites, where the program qualifies as a quality improvement initiative.
• Recruit and train staff

3. Begin patient tracking:

• Data collection using the business tools will help determine which hospital unit is the "right" place to start and the potential caseload.
• As early as possible, begin to track outcome data on elderly patients on the selected hospital unit(s) where you plan to implement the HELP program. We recommend this step to allow you to track outcomes at your site.
• Using screening tools and tracking sheets will help familiarize HELP staff with assessment and data collection.

4. Staff and volunteer training:

• Use the complete dissemination training materials and software (available on the website after registering) including:

Training manuals

• Organizational and Procedural Manual Volume I: Overview and Structure
• Organizational and Procedural Manual Volume II: The Clinical Process
• Organizational and Procedural Manual Volume III: The Database Manual
• The Hospital Elder Life Program Volunteer Training Manual

Video Tapes

• Hospital Elder Life Program Staff Overview Training Video
• Hospital Elder Life Program Volunteer Introduction Training Video
• Hospital Elder Life Program Daily Visitor Program Training Video
• Hospital Elder Life Program Feeding Assistance Program Training Video
• Hospital Elder Life Program Therapeutic Activities Program Training Video
• Hospital Elder Life Program Early Mobilization Program Training Video

Management Tools

• Business Planning Tools: manual and software