Across the country — and here in Massachusetts — hospitals are facing an unprecedented crisis. Emergency rooms are overcrowded, wait times are soaring, and patients often find themselves lying in hallways for hours, sometimes even days, before being admitted. Elderly individuals, especially those with dementia or chronic medical conditions, are among the most vulnerable in this system-wide bottleneck.
The Growing Challenge: Overcrowded Emergency Departments
In recent months, reports from major hospital systems and public health agencies have confirmed what families and healthcare providers already know — the emergency department (ED) is stretched beyond capacity.
- Hospitals are short on inpatient beds.
- Staffing shortages persist across nearly every discipline.
- Non-emergent visits often compete for the same space as life-threatening crises.
For older adults, this means prolonged exposure to noise, confusion, and infection risk — all of which can trigger fear, agitation, or even rapid decline. For those living with dementia, an emergency department visit can be particularly traumatic. The unfamiliar setting, bright lights, loud alarms, and long waits frequently result in delirium, anxiety, or worsened cognitive symptoms.
The Dodge Park and Oasis Approach:
Prevent Before You Send
At Dodge Park Rest Home and Oasis at Dodge Park, we believe that the best emergency care is often the one that never has to happen. Our philosophy centers on early intervention, proactive medical management, and compassionate 24/7 on-site care — all designed to minimize unnecessary hospital transfers and to provide a stable, familiar, and safe environment for our residents.
Here’s how our unique care model makes a difference:
- 24/7 On-Site Licensed Nursing Care
Unlike traditional assisted living communities that rely on visiting nurses or outside agencies, both Dodge Park and Oasis at Dodge Park maintain around-the-clock licensed nursing staff. This means that changes in condition — such as a sudden fever, fall, or shortness of breath — are assessed and treated immediately, not hours later.
Early recognition and quick nursing intervention often prevent minor issues from escalating into hospital-level emergencies.
- Direct Medical Oversight
Our facilities are guided by two medical directors who work closely with our nursing team to oversee clinical care. This high level of physician involvement ensures that when a medical situation arises, decisions can be made quickly and confidently — without waiting for a hospital evaluation.
Our medical directors collaborate with outside specialists and primary care providers, maintaining a continuity of care that most facilities simply cannot replicate.
- Comprehensive On-Site Capabilities
We have the ability to provide a wide range of treatments on-site, including lab draws, onsite X-Ray, wound care, medication adjustments, and infection management via partnership with local home healthcare agencies. By treating many conditions in-house, we help our residents avoid the disruption and discomfort of unnecessary ER visits while maintaining quality and safety.
- Staff Training and Team Coordination
Our entire caregiving team receives continuous education in early symptom recognition, dementia-specific behavioral response, and medical emergency prevention. When a resident exhibits any sign of change — even subtle — our interdisciplinary team immediately communicates, assesses, and acts.
This proactive coordination reduces the likelihood of emergency transfers and promotes better long-term health outcomes.
- A Calm, Familiar Environment
For individuals living with dementia, familiarity is medicine. Hospital transfers often create confusion, fear, and stress that can take days or weeks to recover from. At Dodge Park and Oasis, we believe residents deserve to age in place, surrounded by people they know and trust.
Our commitment to maintaining care on-site helps preserve their emotional well-being, dignity, and stability — values that lie at the heart of everything we do.
A Smarter, Kinder Model for Healthcare
While hospitals continue to navigate staff shortages and system inefficiencies, communities like Dodge Park and Oasis at Dodge Park are proving that innovative, compassionate models of care can relieve that burden — one resident at a time. By combining clinical excellence, medical leadership, and deep empathy, we are redefining what high-quality residential care looks like.
We cannot eliminate every hospital visit — nor should we — but we can reduce unnecessary transfers and ensure that when they do occur, they are truly warranted.
Our goal is simple yet profound: to provide peace of mind to families, safety to residents, and dignity in every stage of care.
At Dodge Park and Oasis at Dodge Park, we don’t just manage health — we protect well-being.
For more information please contact Micha Shalev at m.shalev@dodgepark.com
