Emergency departments (ED) are hardly ever tranquil. But for senior citizens, the ED can be overwhelming and, in many cases, can actually do more harm than good. Many seniors are vulnerable and do not have the stamina to wait in an emergency department, where it’s not uncommon to wait an hour or longer for care. Without proper attention to their specific needs and dispositions, older patients may have difficulty adapting to the hectic environment, leading to delirium or even a dangerous fall.  

What’s more, emergency departments are trained to manage acute problems, and with older patients typically having multiple conditions, the patient may not be treated with respect to their entire medical needs. For this reason, seniors are often admitted to the hospital from the emergency department to receive the care they need, rendering their trip to the ED essentially pointless. This process complicates what should be a one-stop solution to adequate emergency care.

With an estimated 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the need for geriatric emergency care facilities cannot be postponed any longer. Fortunately, many hospitals are now addressing the issue and have established entire Geriatric Emergency Departments, like Mount Sinai in New York City, the Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland, and the Gary and Mary West Senior Emergency Care Center at UC San Diego Health. Many of these geriatric emergency centers feature updates like large clocks, sound absorbing walls, and cozier beds for longer stays.

Other hospitals are updating their existing ED by integrating medical practices specific to the particular needs of geriatric patients. The American College of Physicians recently launched the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Program to encourage more hospitals to update their emergency departments to include more structured geriatric care. So next time you or a loved one wind up in an emergency room, make sure to ask whether special provisions exist in that ER to help support older patients and their families.