Short Communication: Opportunities and Challenges for Early Person-Centered Care for Older Patients in Emergency Settings

Abstract

The provision of person-centered care (PCC) for older adults in emergency settings is important. This short communication explores the complexity of providing comprehensive PCC for older adults in emergency settings, based on a synthesis of existing literature and empirical data from a small-scale case study on the potential of improving patient engagement in a Danish emergency department (ED). Our findings highlight overall positive attitudes towards PCC, as patient engagement is perceived as important and feasible during the waiting hours that older patients experience. However, the key challenges include barriers in organizational structures and cross-sectoral care coordination. We conclude that staff education, optimized care coordination across sectors, and increased involvement of geriatric nurses may enhance the provision of PCC for older, complex adults in EDs. We further conclude that future research into the feasibility and effects of structured approaches for providing PCC in EDs is needed, including exploration of organizational models for PCC.

Keywords: communication; emergency department; frail older adults; patient engagement; person-centered care; qualitative research.

Figure 1

Thematic network: illustration of the thematic network that emerged from the analysis of the empirical data (observations, interviews and informal interviews).