Learn about the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine, and our masking policy »
New to MyHealth?
Manage Your Care From Anywhere.
Access your health information from any device with MyHealth. You can message your clinic, view lab results, schedule an appointment, and pay your bill.
ALREADY HAVE AN ACCESS CODE?
DON'T HAVE AN ACCESS CODE?
NEED MORE DETAILS?
MyHealth for Mobile
Get the iPhone MyHealth app »
Get the Android MyHealth app »
Aging Adult Services
Aging Adult Services
Aging Adult Services provides education, resources, and care coordination for adults age 65 and older residing in San Mateo or Santa Clara counties. Patients are offered services up to 90 days after they are discharged from Stanford Hospital or from skilled nursing facilities, to home. The Aging Adult Services team includes nurses, a gerontologist, a social worker and an occupational therapist.
Care and Treatment
Types of Home Care Services
Caring for an aging parent or loved one can be an exhausting challenge. It is often difficult to provide the round-the-clock care that an aging relative may need. You may be left feeling overwhelmed, guilty or exhausted.
There are several options to help care for aging adults. We can help you decide what level of care is most appropriate for your loved one.
Home Care Agencies
Home care agencies offer at-home caregivers who provide protective supervision for daily activities. These services are mostly private pay, though some forms of long-term insurance may cover these services. Be sure to check that home care aides are trained, bonded, insured and screened for criminal records.
Activities an at-home caregiver can help with include:
- Bathing
- Grooming
- Dressing
- Eating
- Bathroom services
- Getting into and out of bed
- Walking
- Meal preparation with consideration for special diets
- Transportation
- House cleaning and laundry
- Caring for other family members
- Pet care
Home Health Agencies
Home health agencies provide medical services by licensed medical professionals such as:
- Registered nurses
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech therapists
They can administer medication and provide wound care. Medicare and long-term care insurance may cover these services.
Geriatric Care Management Agencies
These agencies provide professional assessments and services such as:
- Arranging care services
- Assisting with community resources
- Residential placement and counseling
- Coordinating in-home help
Housing Options and Levels of Care
As we age, the home we have always lived in may no longer be appropriate or safe. The key to relocation is to match the type of housing with your lifestyle, health and financial needs. Options range from modifying the existing home, or moving to a housing facility with more support and social options available onsite.
If modifying the existing home or bringing in additional care services is no longer a viable option, consider the following levels of care for aging adults:
- Independent living: Areas are designed exclusively for older adults. Types of independent living areas:
- Retirement communities
- Retirement homes
- Senior housing
- Senior apartments
- Services include:
- A shared dining room
- Recreational center or clubhouse
- A wide range of activities and social events
- Assisted living: Assists seniors who need help with daily activities such as cooking meals or getting to the bathroom. Assisted living provides personal care services in a residential type facility. This level of care offers the safety and security of 24-hour support and access to care, while still allowing for privacy and independence.
- Nursing homes: Delivers the highest level of care for older adults outside of a hospital setting. A doctor supervises each patient's care and a nurse or other medical professional is always on the premises. Nursing homes provide custodial care, including:
- Getting in and out of bed
- Assistance with eating
- Bathing help
- Dressing
- Medical care
- Rehabilitation facilities: Provides temporary care after surgery or a major health event. Many rehabilitation facilities provide extended care options as needed.
- Palliative care: Provides support to help relieve pain and improve quality of life for people with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Palliative care can be provided to patients at any time, at any stage of illness, whether terminal or not. This type of care usually takes place in a hospital, extended care facility or nursing home.
- Hospice care: Cares for people with terminal conditions, or within six months of death. Most programs focus on comfort. A team of visiting medical professionals administers care in the home. Hospice can also provide round-the-clock care in a nursing home, a specially equipped hospice facility or in a hospital.
Additional Resources in Home Care
Other resources that may be helpful, depending on your needs, may include:
- Placement agencies: A local agency that can assist you in finding a suitable placement for your parent.
- Respite care: Publicly or privately paid temporary care to relieve the primary caregiver for a break.
- Adult day care: Private programs that provide a safe, structured setting, with trained personnel for several hours a day.
- Adult foster care: Private individuals or nonprofit organizations maintain houses and provide onsite care for patients.
- Home delivered meals: Local agencies can provide home-delivered meals as needed.
- Case manager and service coordinator: A resource for families of cognitively and/or physically impaired persons to help with identifying and coordinating needed services.
For Patients
Stanford Health Care is known worldwide for the advanced patient care provided by its doctors and staff. We also provide a wide range of guest services and amenities to our patients and visitors. Learn more about preparing for a hospital stay, billing and financial services, and our other support programs in Patients & Visitors.
Contact us
Referrals to Aging Adult Services are made internally by Stanford providers. For more information, please call 650-723-1303.