Strategies for Improving Clinical Care of Older Adults in the Emergency Department

In the evolving landscape of emergency departments (EDs), the increasing number of older patients necessitates a paradigm shift. It is important for clinicians to have a working knowledge of geriatric syndromes, goals of care discussions, the importance of gathering collateral history, involving caregivers, assessing medication use, conducting a thorough physical examination, integrating an interdisciplinary team, ensuring basic equipment availability, and coordinating seamless transitions of care. Though nuanced, these strategies promise to enhance the quality of care for older adults in EDs.