On May 16, 2025, during the 25th Annual Senior Health Fair sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, the organization’s Geriatric Nurse Champions (GNCs) in South San Francisco brought the mission of age-friendly care to life through education and innovation. GNCs Becky Nguyen, RN, Christina Taylor, BSN, RN, MED-SURG-BC, and Ayin Chang, BSN, RN, CCRN, supported by Assistant Nurse Manager Minetta Ralleca, MSN, RN, and Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Pamela Konrath, MSN, RN, ACCNS-AG-BC, CCRN, CPHQ, led an engaging educational booth focused on preventing geriatric delirium.
The team educated staff, community members, and visitors on early recognition and prevention strategies for delirium, emphasizing the importance of mobility, hydration, orientation, sleep, and sensory engagement. Through interactive demonstrations, they showed how simple, evidence-based interventions can help older adults remain alert, calm, and connected during hospitalization.
At the same time, GNC staff nurse Sherie May Domingo, BSN, RN, continued to advance her innovative work on the hospital’s Delirium Prevention and Care Carts, now available on inpatient units. Each cart is equipped with sensory aids such as eyeglasses, hearing amplifiers, and mirrors to enhance orientation; cognitive stimulation tools including puzzles, drawing and writing materials, and simple games; fidget devices to reduce restlessness; music therapy headsets offering calming or familiar tunes; and occupational therapy aids that promote fine motor skills and cognitive activity.
Domingo also partnered with hospital volunteers to develop a Volunteer Delirium Prevention Cart, similar in design, to empower volunteers to play an active role in patient care. Volunteers were trained to engage patients with puzzles, fidget devices, drawing books, and hearing amplifiers, activities that spark conversation, maintain cognitive function, and bring comfort to hospitalized older adults.
This initiative not only strengthened delirium prevention efforts but also inspired volunteers by giving them a meaningful, hands-on way to contribute to each patient’s plan of care, truly demonstrating teamwork, compassion, and age-friendly excellence in action. It reflects Kaiser Permanente’s mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. As we continue our pursuit of Level 2 Age-Friendly Health System recognition, South San Francisco remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing safe, person-centered, and equitable care for all older adults in our community.