Do we know what older patients want from emergency care?

We are increasingly aware of the preponderance of older patients attending our emergency departments as well as the fact that they are often acutely unwell. It is heartening then to see in this month’s issue some excellent papers pertaining to the care and treatment of our older patients highlighting some aspects of care that need improvement.

Perhaps contrary to longstanding perceptions, older patients are not a homogenous group but have specific and complex needs that can elude staff in a busy department. Understanding what these needs and desires are is important if we are to deliver individualised care. So I would urge you to read a thought provoking paper by Van Oppen and colleagues in the UK who conducted a systematic review evaluating the expectations and preferred outcomes from emergency care among older patients and their care givers. It’s no surprise that older people had the same hopes and desires as younger patients for prompt waiting times, efficient care, and good communication. What is more telling and poignant about this review and something we need to be much more responsive to is the vulnerability expressed by the participants, particularly, fear …