[Elderly patients in emergency departments, the challenges of assessment on arrival]

The proportion of elderly patients is increasing in emergency departments. The assessment phase on arrival is fundamental and determines the future orientation of the patient.The objectives are to identify the "fragile" patient, to assess the pain in an adapted manner, to make the patient autonomous and to gather objective signs which are sometimes masked by aspecific reasons for the patient having been brought to the emergency department. Assessment tools and practice guidelines, adapted to this section of the population, exist, have been tested and must be generalised. Moreover, working in vertically-integrated pathways must be developed. It is important that the elderly patient is managed in a specific way in emergency departments, in the shortest time possible.