Pathfinder initiative helping older adults
More than 1,000 people have been helped in their homes as part of an initiative set up one year ago to ease the pressure on the ambulance services and emergency departments.
Cork University Hospital (CUH) recently reported that the Pathfinder service, launched in collaboration with the HSE National Ambulance Service, has assisted over 1,000 older adults in their homes in Cork since it began.
Pathfinder is a national healthcare initiative developed by the National Ambulance Service to provide a tailored response for low-acuity 999 calls from adults aged 65 and over, primarily those who have fallen or been injured in their homes.
Since its launch in Cork in 2023, the CUH Pathfinder service has responded to 1,023 calls for older adults in Cork.
40% of these cases were in response to falls and 67% of individuals were able to remain safely at home with Pathfinder’s intervention.
The average age of patients assisted by the Pathfinder team is 79 years, with the oldest being 100 years.
The Pathfinder team’s impact is most evident in key areas throughout Cork, with the highest demand in Blarney and North Cork City (18%), followed by South Cork City (12%) and West Central Cork (12%).
Bríd O’Donoghue, Senior Physiotherapist with the CUH Pathfinder Service, said: “By delivering rapid responsive care directly to patients’ homes, we’re able to help many older adults remain safely in place, avoiding unnecessary hospital visits and easing concerns for those living alone.”
She added: “Our team works closely with each individual to ensure they receive follow-up care or community support where needed, which has proven vital—over 75% of our patients who remain at home after the 999 call, have been linked in with essential community services, connecting patients with ongoing support.”
The Pathfinder service also provides continuity of care, with 587 follow-up home visits provided by physiotherapists and occupational therapists since its launch.
These visits typically include short-term rehabilitation, the provision of essential equipment, and further community support coordination.
To date, the service has made 876 referrals to local community organisations, such as the charity ALONE, community nursing, and general practitioners.
The Pathfinder team comprises advanced paramedics, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists who attend emergency calls in a rapid-response vehicle.
The aim of the service is to ease the pressure on ambulance services and avoids unnecessary transfers to the emergency department. CUH is one of many hospitals across the country to use the Pathfinder service.