Improving the environment for older people in Victorian emergency departments

This report describes the findings of a project in which Victorian health services evaluated the ED environment for older people using an audit tool developed collaboratively by the Department of Human Services (the department) and the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI).

The objectives of the project were to:

• apply a standardised audit tool to assess the accessibility, safety and comfort of Victorian EDs for older people
• identify existing good practices and innovations in the provision of care for older people in EDs, including waiting rooms
• identify opportunities to improve the physical environment to meet the needs of older patients
• provide funding for specific, high-priority activities identified by health services as necessary to improve ED care for older people
• reduce variability in the service environments provided by Victorian EDs
• increase clinicians’ awareness of quality and safety issues in the delivery of care to older people in the ED