ACE unit at Good Samaritan Medical Center helps older adults heal faster, avoid hospital complications

**Good Samaritan Medical Center Launches Innovative ACE Unit to Enhance Care for Older Adults**

LAFAYTE, Colo. — A new pilot program at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette is helping older adults stay active, engaged, and socially connected during their hospital stays. Early results have staff and patients feeling optimistic about the program’s impact.

Known as the “ACE Unit,” short for Acute Care for the Elderly, this initiative is the first of its kind at any Intermountain Health hospital. Launched in April 2025, the unit is designed to deliver specialized care tailored to the growing population of older patients. The program focuses on mobility, nutrition, and mental stimulation throughout the recovery process.

“There was a need for specialization of our unit for geriatrics,” said Clinical Nurse Manager Mary Cisneros. “We see that there’s this growing population of elderly patients near us and in our hospital, and we needed to identify that population and really meet the needs of that specific demographic. The ultimate goal is to give best-in-class care to these patients.”

The ACE Unit’s care team conducts daily interdisciplinary rounds to address medical concerns quickly while keeping patients and their families informed. “It gives a chance for the patient and families to ask questions or learn what the plan of care is from each team member,” Cisneros explained.

**Promising Early Results**

In less than a year, the unit has already demonstrated measurable improvements. Cisneros highlighted several key outcomes: “We have seen improvement in reduced length of stay for our patients, significant reduction in readmission rates, increased mobility rates—so patients are getting up and moving around—which helps reduce functional decline during their hospital stay. We’ve also seen a decrease in pressure injuries and a reduction in fall injuries.”

For patients like Daniel Cross, the program has made an impactful difference in just days. “I had a stroke. I woke up 10 days ago and I couldn’t walk,” he shared. “Yesterday, I walked in the corridor, and today, I walked even longer. I’ll do that every day, twice, six, five times a day, rather than sit here.”

**Volunteers Enhance Patient Experience**

Volunteers play a crucial role in the ACE Unit’s success beyond medical care. Kathy Schulz, who is in her 70s, visits patients daily to offer companionship and mental stimulation through activities such as conversation and puzzles.

“One of the things that they wanted to promote, in addition to walking, was stimulation of the brain,” Schulz said. “I have a knack for sensing when someone needs a little bit of TLC. I make a connection with them.”

Schulz believes her age helps her relate to patients on a personal level. “I understand some of the things that they’ve gone through, the aches and pains, and experiences that a younger individual might not know,” she noted.

Patients have noticed the difference. One heartfelt note Schulz received from a patient read:
*“Kindness is a novelty in this world, but it is certainly a shining star at Good Samaritan. Thank you to all the staff.”*

**Looking Ahead**

Cisneros emphasized that programs like ACE are crucial in addressing the real challenges older adults face in hospitals, including risks of infection, functional decline, and delirium. “We need to be proactive in meeting their needs,” she said, “and really start looking at our care delivery so that we’re implementing units like this more widespread.”

Following the successful pilot, Intermountain Health hopes to eventually expand the ACE Unit program to every hospital in its system, enhancing specialized care for elderly patients across the region.
https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/ace-unit-at-good-samaritan-medical-center-helps-older-adults-heal-faster-avoid-hospital-complications