Our Commitment to be Age-Friendly

At Tidelands Health, we are committed to providing high-quality care that meets the unique needs of patients at all stages of life.

Because health needs change with time, we’ve developed a series of evidence-based programs and services uniquely tailored to patients ages 65 and older. From customized care plans to a personalized approach to nutrition and medication, our goal is to provide seniors with care that nourishes both physical and emotional health.

In recognition of the high-quality, patient-centered care we provide to older adults, Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital and Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital have been designated “Age-Friendly Health System – Committed to Care Excellence” by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, a not-for-profit organization that uses improvement science to advance and sustain better outcomes in health and health care.

What does it mean to be age-friendly?

The age-friendly recognition is granted by IHI to hospitals and medical practices that have demonstrated exemplary alignment with the institute’s evidence-based framework for caring for seniors known as the 4Ms:

• Asking what matters to the patient -- knowing and aligning care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences
• Medication – when medication is necessary, using age-friendly medication
• Mentation -- preventing, identifying, treating and managing dementia, depression and delirium
• Mobility – helping older adults move safely every day to maintain function

Why does it matter?

By 2050, the number of people in the U.S. ages 65 and older is expected to reach nearly 84 million, nearly double the number of people in that age group in 2012, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The age-friendly designation demonstrates that Tidelands Health care providers have implemented evidenced-based practices designed to support older adults’ unique physical and emotional health needs.