Innovative Healthcare Partnerships Reduce Emergency Room Visits Among Seniors

An innovative collaboration between healthcare providers and local faith-based organizations is demonstrating promising results in reducing emergency room visits among older adults. This program, which pairs seniors with trained community volunteers for regular companionship—either via phone or in-person visits—has been linked to decreased feelings of loneliness and social isolation, key factors impacting seniors' health outcomes. The partnership, developed by IU Health and the Regenstrief Institute, targeted neighborhoods with high needs, emphasizing the importance of social support as a component of health care.

Social isolation among older adults is a recognized risk factor for various adverse health outcomes, including increased chronic illnesses, mental health issues, and premature death. These challenges are often exacerbated in under-resourced communities where barriers such as transportation and limited access to healthcare services are prevalent.

The program's evaluation revealed that participation led to a significant decline in emergency department visits—from nearly 25% to below 17%—and an increase in outpatient visits from about 64% to 71%. Participants also reported reductions in emotional and social loneliness, benefiting from more supportive, consistent relationships with healthcare providers.

This initiative is known as the Congregational Care Network (CCN), which collaborates with faith communities to recruit and train volunteers that provide weekly companionship over a three-month period. The program aims to foster meaningful connections, reduce loneliness, and improve healthcare utilization patterns among vulnerable seniors.

Founded on the principle that faith and social support play vital roles in health, the CCN operates across multiple metropolitan areas in Indiana, engaging diverse faith backgrounds. Trained volunteers serve as connectors, meeting patients’ emotional and social needs without proselytizing, and are supported by IU Health staff including social workers and chaplains.

The study, led by Dr. Alexia Torke, highlights the importance of addressing social determinants in healthcare to promote better health outcomes and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits. It underscores the potential of community-based interventions to complement traditional medical care, especially for populations at greater risk due to social isolation.

Published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, this research emphasizes that fostering social connections is a critical component of holistic elder care and suggests scalable opportunities for health systems to integrate similar programs into their service models.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-health-partnership-senior-emergency-room.html