Senior Services

Keeping you in stride

St. Francis Medical Center is here for you at every stage of life. In your golden years, we will continue to be your go-to hospital for care. Whether for a routine mammogram or blood work, a specialized procedure such as a colonoscopy or MRI, a scheduled surgery, or an emergency, we have the talented team of experienced physicians, nurses, and technicians who will care for you with the highest level of skill, safety, and compassion.

For further information, contact us at 310-900-7319

Optimal Care for Seniors

Geriatric Emergency Department Accredited

St. Francis Medical Center includes a Geriatric Emergency Department accredited by the American College of Emergency Physicians. It is the largest, most comprehensive geriatric accredited emergency department in South Los Angeles County. This designation recognizes the hospital’s commitment and ability to deliver the highest standards of care for older adults within the community.

The Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation designation means that our care of older adults includes:

Following proven best practices and standardized approaches to care that address issues common to seniors. This includes routine screening for delirium, dementia, fall risk, among other senior vulnerabilities.
Ensuring geriatric-focused education and staffing expertise from a range of disciplines.
Facilitating optimal transitions of care from the emergency department to other settings (inpatient, home, community-based care, rehabilitation, long-term care).
Having resources and equipment that are appropriate and that support care of older adults.

Our geriatric accreditation reflects our team’s commitment to the delivery of excellent care for aging individuals. Our approach allows us to provide tailored treatment for you and the best possible experience, including shorter wait times and personalized, well-coordinated care. Older adults visiting our emergency department can be assured that we have the necessary expertise, equipment and personnel in place to provide superior, age-appropriate care.

Certified Stroke Center

St. Francis Medical Center is a Certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center providing patients with higher-level stroke care capabilities. This designation by The Joint Commission is your assurance that we follow care practices that lead to better, safer and more effective treatment. In fact, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have also recognized St. Francis with its Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award for our commitment to consistently delivering a high level of care.

This advanced care includes our new Bi-plane system which enables us to perform neurointerventional procedures that can save the lives of stroke patients as well as prevent the impairments that can result from a stroke.

A stroke occurs when an artery to the brain either becomes blocked or bursts, preventing the brain from receiving a constant supply of blood. Every minute the brain lacks proper blood circulation, 2 million brain cells die. This can result in speech and language problems, reading and reasoning impairment, loss of depth perception and direction, difficulties with seeing, sleeping, moving, memory and a range of other emotional and physical changes.

With our Bi-Plane technology, hospital neurointerventionalists are able to perform specialized procedures called thrombectomies – the removal of blood clots from an artery or vein – using minimally invasive techniques. The advantage is that patients experiencing an ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot in a blood vessel typically in the brain, can be treated through endovascular therapies. In short, removal of the clot can be performed using catheters threaded through arteries rather than accessing the blockage through the patient’s skull.

24/7 Access to Experts

Our Stroke Care Team includes brain experts (neurologists) who specialize in stroke care along with specially trained nurses, radiologists, vascular surgeons, rehabilitation therapists and nutritionists. We stand ready to help you any time of the day or night.

Comprehensive Approach

Throughout your care journey, we help you get the best possible care. Our imaging technologies deliver crisp, clear images in seconds to ensure an accurate diagnosis. After treatment, you recover in our intensive care unit (ICU) where dedicated critical care physicians help you recover and protect you from complications. We have a designated Stroke Unit, staffed with nurses trained and educated on the care of stroke patients. Our team of rehabilitation therapists helps you safely transition back to everyday activities.

Care Close to Home

St. Francis has received approved stroke center (ASC) designation from the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMS). This designation means that EMS units will transport you by ambulance directly to St. Francis if we are the closest ASC.

Focus on Prevention

After you recover, we deliver personalized treatments and recommendations to help protect you from future strokes. You may receive special medications, education, and support toward making important lifestyle changes, such as learning how to eat a healthy diet.

Stroke Signs and Symptoms

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of stroke can help you get care as quickly as possible and reduce your risk for long-term complications. Learn more about our Stroke Center and the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of stroke.

Learn More

STEMI Receiving Center

St. Francis Medical Center is an approved STEMI Receiving Center for Los Angeles County. A STEMI, or “ST elevation myocardial infarction,” is one of the most common and deadly forms of heart attack. Patients experiencing a STEMI are at risk of developing sudden cardiac arrest. They require immediate catheterization intervention by a trained cardiologist and treatment ranging from a stent to angioplasty to open heart surgery With our advanced level of care, we provide direct response and medical treatment for area patients undergoing a STEMI, which minimizes the risk for long term heart damage.

Our STEMI Receiving Center ensures that 911 patients who are experiencing a STEMI in our service area have a facility close to home that offers 24/7 cardiac catheterization and surgical capabilities.

Medicare 101 Free Education Seminars

St. Francis Medical Center offers FREE monthly seminars in partnership with Boomers Insurance Services to help you understand the basics of the Medicare program. The seminar is designed to help you learn about eligibility, enrollment, and how to get the most from your coverage, whichever plan you choose.

There is no obligation, just helpful information.

Family, friends, and neighbors are welcome.

Next Session:
Saturday, April 27, 2024
10:00 am – 11:00 am (Spanish)
11:00 am – 12:00 noon (English)

St. Francis Medical Center
3630 E. Imperial Highway, Lynwood, CA 90262
Patient Tower Auditorium

Light refreshment will be offered.

Parking will be validated. Please enter on Imperial Highway and park in structure 2.

For more information please call (310) 900-7314 or (310) 900-7308.

Medicare 101 Flyer (English)

Medicare 101 Flyer (Spanish)

Community Health Education

Keeping you healthy and on the move is as important to us as caring for you when you’re sick or need medical services. Our Community Health Nurse provides health education on topics important to seniors each month at our local senior centers. Topics address heart health, diabetes, nutrition, stroke, bone health, lung health, breast cancer awareness, mental and emotional health, urinary health, Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss, digestive health, and vaccines important for seniors. Our nurse also conducts health screenings that can alert you to potential issues and allow you to follow up with your doctor at the earliest stage possible.

To find out locations and dates of upcoming senior health education sessions, call (310) 900-7319.