“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of evidence that people wait a couple of hours, or even a couple of days, before coming to the emergency room or calling 911,” says Dr. Rahul Khare, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Ill.
Even the time spent waiting at the emergency room can cut into the “golden hour” needed to save a patient’s life after a heart attack, stroke, or fall injury. Khare says calling an ambulance could be a better option because trained paramedics can make an initial diagnosis and begin treatment immediately.
Older adults who live alone are particularly vulnerable to delaying emergency medical care because they may not realize or want to admit they’ve sustained a heart attack or a stroke, Wilber says. “So they stay home and stay home, and finally when they can’t get it to go away, they come in.”
Wilber says people who live with a spouse, family, or at a retirement community often seek treatment sooner because someone around them notices they are experiencing unusual symptoms. “They’re going to call an ambulance for you,” Wilber says.
No one wants to think about dealing with a medical emergency, but knowing that people who know you and care about your health are always available can relieve a lot of anxiety.
Medical care on-site
Martha Arendt lives at Seabrook, where an on-site emergency medical team is always available. “The emergency team responds extremely quickly if you call, so that aspect of Erickson Health® is wonderful. Plus, they have qualified doctors right here on the premises so I don’t have to leave the campus,” she says.
“The people who live here appreciate and admire what we do,” says Eric Stein, Seabrook’s facilities manager of transportation, emergency services, and security. He oversees a 35-person team that responds to calls within three minutes.
Stein’s staff includes 15 emergency medical technicians and 20 certified first responders. “We pay for all EMT training and urge staff development,” he says. Additionally, Seabrook offers certified first responder training by American Red Cross-trained security EMT teachers to any interested Seabrook employee.
Medical care doesn’t end with emergency treatment. Seabrook’s on-site physicians work closely with the emergency team to deliver the highest quality care in every situation. “Our goal is to maintain the highest level of care for everyone at Seabrook with the best trained staff,” Stein says.