title: Nursing issues in care for the elderly in the emergency department: an overview of the literature.
abstract: Emergency care is an important link in the chain of care for geriatric patients. Due to the specific physiological, psychological, and social needs of elderly people, the type and quantity of emergency care are different for this group of patients than for other age groups. Consequently, they have a significant impact on the health care system. Doctors and nurses working in an emergency department must be aware of this specific situation and adjust the care that they provide accordingly. Appropriate communication between health care providers and patients, a sound assessment of functional status and cognitive ability, and specific attention to verbal and written discharge guidelines are indispensable.
authors.affiliation: Research Associate, Centre for Health Services and Nursing Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35/4, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium. Philip.Moons@med.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moons
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arnauts
authors.forename: Herman H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Delooz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods