Mental health and emergency care for people aged over 65 years
Mental health and emergency care for people aged over 65 years
The challenge
People aged over 65 years access emergency care more frequently than younger cohorts but often their mental health needs are not initially identified or disclosed. Emergency departments are busy and often chaotic yet there is little evidence about how this setting may adversely impact on a patient’s psychological and emotional wellbeing. This project explored the key issues from both perspectives – older patients and healthcare professionals – to better understand and address the mental health of patients in emergency care.
Our impact
- An Australian-first study describing the relationship between symptoms of depression and subsequent emergency healthcare use in a population of healthy Australians aged at least 70 years.
- Identified how frequent episodes of emergency care may have adverse consequences for both individuals and the healthcare system.
- Findings helping to inform an improved, person-centred model of emergency care in the Frankston/Mornington Peninsula region.
Project leads
Emergency physician and researcher, Dr Rosamond Dwyer, of Peninsula Health and Monash University, led this team from 2022-2025.
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Project resources & knowledge
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Key project information
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For further information please contact Dr Rosamund Dwyer: rosamond.dwyer@monash.edu