Older people in A&E: Literature review and implications for British policy and practice

Abstract

As the proportion of older people in the population rises, health services must continue to develop to meet their special needs. This includes accident and emergency (A&E) services which work at the interface between primary and secondary health care for individuals of all ages. This literature review aimed to answer the following questions:1) What are the characteristics and special needs of older people in A&E?2) Which of the current literature describes, evaluates or advocates service initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of older people in A&E?3) What are the policy implications of the literature reviewed for British A&E services?