Geriatric Evaluation & Management Service
The Geriatric Evaluation and Management Service (GEMS) focuses on restorative care to optimise physical and cognitive function which has become impaired due to complex medical conditions, frailty, chronic disease or multiple co-morbidities for patients 65 years or older.
Our services
GEMS is a 15-bed inpatient unit located at Brighton Health Campus. A specialised multidisciplinary team works with patients carrying out comprehensive assessment, formulating patient-centred goals, treatment and discharge plans.
The focus of GEMS is to:
- promote independence
- facilitate older people in improving functional capacity
- prevent further decline
- prepare patients to return to their home environments if suitable.
GEMS patients have access to a range of services including:
- cognitive and functional assessment
- restorative care assessment
- geriatric assessment
- geriatric rehabilitation
- dementia assessment and management
- home visits to facilitate discharge planning.
How to access this service
Referrals are received from health professionals from the acute patient’s care team or in public hospital by the Geriatric Rehabilitation and Liaison Service. Completed referrals are emailed to BrightonGEM@health.qld.gov.au
What to bring
- Safe, appropriate, and comfortable clothing that can be worn during activities. Family members are asked to launder your clothing.
- Safe, comfortable, appropriate, and well-fitting footwear
- Night attire and toiletries (soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, tissues, shaving kits, creams/lotions).
- It does get cold sometimes in the unit, it is recommended that you also bring some warm clothes.
- Any other items you usually use at home – walking aids, wheelchairs, pressure relieving cushions, splints, pressure garments, glasses, hearing aids, dentures.
- Free WiFi is available. NB. You/your family are responsible for any valuable items you choose to bring.
- Please bring all your current medications, including vitamin supplements and herbal medicines so your doctor and pharmacist can review them.
Visiting
Visiting hours are flexible, and vary from ward to ward. Some wards/areas have restricted visiting hours due to the nature of care being provided in that particular clinical area and most wards have rest periods. Visitors can ask ward staff about the particular visiting arrangements for the ward where their relative or friend is staying.
To contact a ward, phone our switchboard on (07) 36317400 and ask to be put through.
Parking
Parking is available on-site at the Brighton Health Campus.
What to expect
Within the first few days on the unit, the healthcare team will conduct various assessments and will work with you and your family to understand your needs and goals. The service provides specialised care for older people with complex and/or long term conditions related to ageing, disability and cognition (thinking).
The aim is to optimise your level of function to enable you to live as independently as possible and the team will give you and your family regular updates.
Sometimes it may be helpful for the team to meet with you and your family to discuss your progress and plans for discharge.
The service includes:
- Cognitive and functional assessment
- Comprehensive geriatric assessment
- Geriatric rehabilitation
- Dementia diagnosis and management
- Home visits to plan for discharge
Contact us
Ebbtide House, Brighton Health Campus
Location: 449 Hornibrook Highway
Brighton
Phone: (07) 3631 7400
Email: BrightonGEM
Resources
Health professionals
Inclusion criteria
Aged 65 years or over (50 years or over if of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent) with age-related medical conditions, and:
- require multidisciplinary assessment and care
- have cognitive impairment or other genetic conditions
- frail with multiple comorbidities
- would benefit from functional optimisation
- has identifiable goals.
Exclusion criteria
- Patient has no capacity for functional improvement.
- Medically unstable.
- No identified goals for admission.
- Palliative care.
- Out of district patients awaiting equivalent service locally.