Resource Center

This decision-making toolkit released by Planetree International and the American Nurses Foundation was developed to help healthcare leaders implement hospital and nursing home visitation policies that balance safety and infection control with the importance of in-person family presence. The decision-making toolkit guides nurse leaders and other users through a process of considering a range of variables when establishing visiting parameters. These include local conditions, resource availability, equity, and current evidence about potential harms and benefits of family presence.

The National Council on Aging created an Age Well Planner for older adults and family members to complete regarding the health and well being of aging adults. The planner includes a personalized assessment for individuals to complete depending on their role. At the completion of the assessment, individualized resources are provided to the individual based on three categories: finance, Medicare, health and wellness.

Transforming cardiovascular health and improving heart health is a mission of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). This online resource provides evidence-based practice information and slide decks regarding a variety of topics related to geriatric cardiology. In addition, the ACC has a free online case-based curriculum covering key features of aging impacting cardiovascular disease including pharmacology, physiology, hypertension, heart failure, syncope, valvular disease, peripheral arterial disease, perioperative care, palliative care, decision-making.

The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is a comprehensive, evidence-based, patient care program that provides optimal care for older persons in the hospital. Dr. Sharon Inouye and her colleagues at Yale University School of Medicine originally designed HELP to prevent delirium among hospitalized older persons. This site requires establishing an account to access the free materials.

This toolkit created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) helps senior centers integrate suicide prevention into activities that support well-being. It describes activities that increase protective factors, and explains how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of suicide and a suicide attempt or death. Several tools for providers along with fact sheets for older adults.

This toolkit created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) equips senior living staff with resources to promote mental health, suicide prevention, and encourages active participation among residents. It includes guidelines for integrating suicide prevention into ongoing programs, hands-on tools, and training manuals.

Designed for organizations that provide services to older adults, this toolkit created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers information and materials to help understanding the issues associated with substance misuse and mental illness in older adults. The toolkit also contains materials to educate older adults.

This primary care toolkit from the National Osteoporosis Foundation aims to increase the identification, assessment, and treatment of patients who are at risk for fractures by physicians and other healthcare professionals in primary care practice. As the patient's "medical home," primary care is the ideal setting for implementing and overseeing these evidence-based fracture prevention strategies. The toolkit includes education on osteoporosis and fractures as well as fall risk assessments. 

The Rapid Geriatric Assessment (RGA) is a screening tool for primary care health providers developed by the Geriatrics Devision of Saint Louis University. The RGA includes assessment of frailty, nutrition, loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), and cognitive function. For more information on using this free tool, email aging@slu.edu.

The Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) exam is an assessment tool for mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Before administering the SLUMS, the training video should be viewed and then annually reviewed. The tool is intended for use by social services, reflections/passages program coordinators, licensed nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, residence supervisors, and other qualified health care professionals. Instructions for use of the tool, including supplemental videos, are available on this web page.