Wir überwinden Grenzen

With the restructuring and expansion of inpatient geriatric care, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg is further expanding patient care

Changing demographics are one of the megatrends that are increasingly shaping the healthcare sector. Due to the ageing population, medicine must prepare itself for a significant increase in very old patients. In particular, the expected increase in gerontoneurological and gerontopsychiatric conditions such as dementia and depression poses particular challenges for the healthcare system.

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg is aware of its special role in geriatric care in the region and in the state of Baden-Württemberg and has steadily expanded its treatment services for older people since the Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Freiburg (ZGGF) was founded in 1991. As a university institution, innovative interdisciplinary early rehabilitative treatment concepts were introduced at an early stage as part of pilot projects and scientifically monitored over the long term. The aim of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg is to provide geriatric patients with early access to new treatment options in line with their needs.

Geriatric ward for rapid recovery after major surgery

The opening of a geriatric ward with 20 beds, which is looked after by an experienced gerontological-neurological team, was a major step forward just over a year ago. The high level of satisfaction of the patients treated there proves that this approach is the right one. Thanks to the competent interprofessional geriatric care, patients can be supported even better in the recovery process immediately after major interventions.

Stronger integration of the ZGGF improves accessibility and services for patients

Another important development is the relocation of the Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Freiburg (ZGGF) to the Neurocenter at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. This means that the ZGGF is now perfectly integrated into a strong organization at the heart of the Central Clinic. This means short distances for patients if additional examinations are required. In addition, specialists from numerous areas involved can be called in quickly if required, such as experts from gerontoneurology, gerontopsychiatry, physiotherapy and many other disciplines. The direct proximity to the streetcar and a parking garage on the doorstep also make it easier to get here.

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg's outpatient geriatric services will thus be brought together and strengthened in one place. Duplicate structures will be eliminated. The memory outpatient clinic, which was previously offered in the Neurocenter and in Lehener Straße, can now be concentrated in one place and under one management. The merging of the physiotherapy teams and other support services will also ultimately allow services to be bundled in return.

The ZGGF continues to be responsible for the care of nursing homes, teaching for medical students and special advanced training and further education formats that address the special aspects of older people and geriatric patients. Only outpatient geriatric rehabilitation (AGR) will be discontinued due to high personnel costs and low patient numbers. Specifically, 46 patients were treated in AGR in 2022. There are outpatient rehabilitation services in the region that can meet these needs.

Care with scientific standards

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg's claim in geriatric care is always to position its services in an academic-scientific context. As a center for diagnostic and therapeutic research in the field of dementia (Alzheimer's dementia, frontal lobe dementia, Lewy body dementia), the ZGGF is involved in national and international studies. At the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, for example, a comprehensive interprofessional project to establish dementia-friendly hospital structures is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The aim of the project is to improve delirium prevention, which should benefit all elderly patients in the future.

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg will continue to make great efforts in the areas of research, treatment and teaching in order to continuously improve geriatric patient care.