Background: The number of older adults with complex medical comorbidities and functional impairment is increasing throughout the world. Frail older adults frequently attend the Emergency Department (ED) and are at increased risk of adverse outcomes following presentation. A number of screening tools exist that aim to screen older adults for frailty and identify those at risk of functional decline, unscheduled readmission, institutionalisation and mortality. We propose to determine the predictive accuracy of four commonly used screening tools, namely the Identification of Seniors at Risk Screening (ISAR), Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Program of Research to Integrate Services for the Maintenance of Autonomy (PRISMA 7) and InterRAI ED, to determine adverse events at 30 days and six months among older adults who present to the ED. Methods and analysis: This is a prospective cohort study where patients over the age of 65 will have four screening tools (ISAR, CFS, PRISMA 7, interRAI ED) performed by face-to-face interview with a research nurse during their index visit to one Irish ED. Older adults will be included if they are willing and able to provide written informed consent, have a Manchester Triage Category 2-5 and are resident in the hospital catchment area. Demographic information will be collected at the index visit. A telephone follow up will occur at 30 days and six months, completed by a research nurse who is blinded to the initial assessment. Outcome data will include mortality rates, ED re-attendance, hospital readmission, functional decline and institutionalisation. We will analyse the risk of adverse outcomes using multivariable logistic regression and we will report adjusted risk ratios (RR) with 95% CI. Dissemination: Study findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at relevant academic and clinical conferences. National and International gerontology conferences will be targeted.