title: A geriatric high dependency unit--an innovation in the care of the acutely ill elderly patient?
abstract: A geriatric High Dependency Unit has been in operation at Cardiff Royal Infirmary for the past 7 years to provide "special-care" for acutely ill elderly people requiring careful bedside monitoring and intensive nursing and medical treatment. The background to the unit, its present functioning and the results of a prospective study of 432 consecutive admissions are described. The unit offers more appropriate and better continuity of hospital care for many very ill geriatric patients and may be a satisfactory alternative to admission to coronary or intensive care units where resources are not freely available.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Wales.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bayer
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pathy
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014852:Wales