Perspectives and Experiences of Older Adults in Royal University Hospital Emergency Department

The older adult population, 65 years and older, as of 2021 make up 19% of Canada’s population and have a disproportionate high use of Emergency Departments (ED) than their younger counterparts. Despite older adults frequently using EDs, EDs are not tailored to accommodate their unique needs contributing to adverse outcomes such as functional decline, hospitalization, and unplanned ED return visits. We used an electronic survey composed of questions on wait times, comfort, communication, caregivers, and accessibility to identify patient perspectives and experiences. Previous research demonstrated the importance of sensory and mobility aids for older adults who use them to enhance their stay and decrease the risk of serious adverse events, including developing delirium. We found that while 81.67% of participants wear glasses,16.67% did not have them with them, 18.33% wear hearing aids but 19.09% did not have them, 42.02% regularly wear dentures but 9.82% did not have them, and 45.83% use a mobility aid such as a cane or walker but only 18.92% had one accessible to them for the duration of their stay. The results of the survey display unique challenges the older adult population faces, and highlights potential opportunities for patient centred care enhancement, and improved outcomes.