Older adults make up a growing share of emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions, yet their care is often fragmented across settings, teams, and measures. When older adults are cared for in ways that are safer, better coordinated, and aligned with what matters to them, patients benefit and the entire health system works better.
Commonly deemed “the front porch”, the ED is often the first point of access for high-risk older adults. Geriatric emergency departments ensure the best care for older adult patients by incorporating geriatric-specific screening protocols and procedures into triage and care.
In this video, we see how some small changes to care can mean huge changes for older adult patients.
Mrs. Smith has a fall while tending to her garden, and has to go to the emergency department for care. See how a Geriatric ED can help prevent delirium, improve treatment time, avoid hospital admission, and get Mrs. Smith back to living independently and gardening.