Senior Life Solutions Team Saves Patient’s Life

A recent incident at one of our Senior Life Solutions programs illustrates the vital role our teams play in ensuring the mental and physical health of older adults, and the strength of our partnerships with hospitals to produce positive patient outcomes. Doctors at a Tennessee hospital that hosts a Senior Life Solutions program credited our team with saving a patient's life. (To ensure the privacy of the patient involved we've removed some details, including their name and the hospital location.)

About Senior Life Solutions

Senior Life Solutions (SLS) is a hospital-based outpatient program designed to meet the unique needs of adults typically ages 65 and older who are struggling with symptoms of depression and anxiety that can sometimes be age-related. Patients in SLS programs receive psychiatric care and meet at the hospital for group therapy sessions, which are typically held three times a week. When patients come to these sessions we check their vitals, including pulse, oxygen levels and temperature.

Discovering the Symptoms

On a recent Monday morning, an unexpected occurrence unfolded. The patient, who was never one to be tardy, was late for a group therapy session. The SLS team at the hospital called the patient, who said she'd been short of breath and was feeling weak after getting out of the shower. The patient arrived at the group therapy session and shared that she'd had difficulty going to church the morning before. She shared that, unlike her usual routine, she had been unable to attend the evening church service on Sunday. Even simple tasks, like reaching the restroom during a break, proved to be a struggle for her. Concern deepened as we realized the severity of her condition.

A registered nurse who is part of the SLS team checked the patient's oxygen saturation levels. Shockingly, the readings hovered in the 70s range, well below the normal range in the 90s. However, there was a temporary improvement as her oxygen level rose to 90. Later another SLS team member rechecked the level, which had fallen back into the 70s range. Recognizing the urgency, they immediately alerted the respiratory team at the hospital.

Swift action was crucial to saving the patient's life. She was promptly admitted to our partner hospital. Given the severity of her condition, she was later transferred to a larger hospital, where a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals provided specialized care. At the hospital, our patient's resilience shone through as she faced numerous challenges head-on. With approximately 10 pounds of fluid removed, her condition began to stabilize. Although she remained hospitalized, her progress was evident, and hope illuminated her path to recovery.

A Life-Saving Intervention

Days later the patient's doctor told our SLS team that had she not received timely treatment, she might have suffocated and tragically lost her life. Congestive heart failure, a condition affecting the heart's ability to pump blood effectively, was identified as the underlying cause. It was a stark reminder of how important it is for older adults to have regular social interactions and routine checkups. Our patient's story emphasizes the importance of listening to our bodies, seeking help when needed, and having a dedicated healthcare team by our side. Today, we celebrate the strides made in her recovery and wish her a future filled with health and vitality. May her story inspire others facing similar challenges to never lose hope and always believe in the incredible strength of the human spirit.