For Senior Health, Trips to the ER Are Often a Tipping Point

Research published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine estimated that six months after visiting the emergency room (ER), seniors were 14 percent more likely to have developed a disability than those of the same age, with a similar illness, who did not go to the ER, reports Kaiser Health News . Yale University Professor Thomas Gill believes sickness or injury that leads to ER visits can trigger "a fairly vulnerable period of time for older persons" and "we should consider new initiatives to address seniors' care needs and challenges after such visits." A 2016 study published in the American Journal of Medicine determined older adults experienced sharp declines in their "life-space mobility," or the degree to which they get up and about and out of the house, following an ER visit, which lasted for at least 12 months without full recovery. Research published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society suggests seniors who are having difficulties with self-care or activities such as cooking, cleaning, and managing medications are particularly vulnerable to the aftereffects of an ER visit. The emergency medicine field has endorsed guidelines for making ERs more senior-friendly. They call for training medical staff in the principles and practice of geriatric care, evaluating seniors to ascertain their degree of risk, screening seniors designated at risk for various problems, conducting a comprehensive medication review, making referrals to community resources such as Meals on Wheels, and providing an easily understood discharge plan.