Common geriatric emergencies
Older adults make up an increasing share of emergency department (ED) users, as the proportion of those aged 65 years and older increases in the general population. Older adults often have physical, physiological, psychological, and social considerations which demand a different approach to evaluation, management, and discharge planning compared to most younger adults using the ED. Older people are also more likely to have accumulated morbidity throughout their life course. Thus, a focus on geriatric emergency medicine has become an increasingly important as clinicians adapt to meet the challenges of population ageing. Here we outline the current trends in ED usage by older adults and give an overview of how care of older people is structured in emergency medicine.