The accident department and Age Concern.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Accident and Emergency Departments (A&EDs) are increasingly serving as primary health care providers for the elderly.
• Elderly attendance at A&EDs can signify a loss of independence, potentially leading to hospital admission.
• Hospital admissions for elderly patients may be preventable with timely community-based social support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an integrated after-care support system for elderly patients attending Accident and Emergency Departments.
• To assess the effectiveness of an after-care officer in bridging hospital services and community social support networks.

Main Methods:

• A five-year collaboration with an Age Concern after-care officer was established.
• The after-care officer provided immediate social support and liaised with Social Services.
• Longer-term support was facilitated through the community-based Age Concern network.

Main Results:

• The after-care officer successfully provided immediate assistance to elderly patients.
• Liaison with Social Services and the Age Concern network facilitated community-based support.
• Both community and hospital-based services reported benefits from the integrated approach.

Conclusions:

• Integrating dedicated after-care support within Accident and Emergency Departments can effectively manage elderly patient needs.
• Community-based social support, facilitated by an after-care officer, can help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions for the elderly.
• This collaborative model enhances the continuum of care for older adults, benefiting patients and healthcare systems.