WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) has launched a pilot project aimed at improving the recovery of elderly patients through the introduction of a specialized geriatric room designed to promote mobility, social interaction, and overall well-being during hospitalization.
The new facility, known as the Geriatric Room, has been established on nursing ward C1 and can accommodate up to four patients. While patients continue to receive regular medical treatment, the program places additional emphasis on keeping seniors active and engaged throughout their hospital stay.
According to geriatric nurse Sterre Noordhoek, who coordinates the initiative, many elderly patients leave the hospital in a weaker physical condition than when they were admitted because they spend too much time confined to bed. The new approach seeks to prevent physical decline, confusion, and loneliness by encouraging patients to get out of bed, sit together at a table, participate in simple activities, and remain as active as possible.
The concept was developed by CMC’s geriatric team, including geriatrician Dr. Schakel and Noordhoek, in collaboration with ward manager Desire Ventura. Daily support is provided by nurses, physiotherapists, and nine specially trained volunteers.
Geriatric care is a specialized branch of medicine focused on older adults, typically those aged 65 and over, who often face multiple health conditions at the same time. In addition to treating illness, geriatric care aims to preserve or restore independence and quality of life. Particular attention is given to mobility, nutrition, memory issues, medication management, and preventing complications such as muscle loss, falls, and confusion.
Hospital staff note that prolonged bed rest can rapidly reduce muscle strength and physical condition among elderly patients. As a result, modern geriatric programs increasingly encourage movement and activity during hospitalization to help patients resume their normal daily lives more easily after discharge.
The initiative also reflects a broader demographic challenge facing Curaçao. According to figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), approximately 25.3 percent of the island’s population is now 65 years of age or older, compared to less than 14 percent a decade ago. The rapid aging of the population is expected to place growing demands on the healthcare system in the years ahead.
CMC views the pilot as a proactive response to this trend. If the project proves successful, the hospital plans to introduce similar geriatric rooms on other nursing wards and eventually incorporate the concept into standard hospital care.
Hospital officials hope the program will not only improve medical outcomes for elderly patients but also enhance their overall hospital experience by ensuring that recovery involves more than just treating illness. By combining medical care with movement, nutrition, and social interaction, the initiative seeks to help seniors maintain their independence and quality of life even during periods of hospitalization.