Care experiences of older people with mental health needs and their families in emergency medical services settings.
Deborah Goode, Assumpta Ryan, Vidar Melby and 1 others
PMID 36017887WHAT IT FOUND
Older people with mental health needs and carers described emergency care as frightening when waiting, noise, poor privacy and stigma were present.
Many hid mental health history until necessary. Staff who were caring and helpful were valued.
Key findings
01Stigma made older people hesitate to reveal mental health needs, and only two of the older people and one carer disclosed the diagnosis to triage nurses.
02Waiting in noisy, crowded spaces and lack of privacy were described as distressing and hard to cope with.
03Participants asked for a quiet waiting space and repeated the need for training and education for emergency staff.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 15 people were interviewed, and the study was done in one region of the UK, so the findings may not transfer to other emergency services. Recruitment relied on gatekeepers, and people with acute delirium or end-stage dementia who could not consent were excluded, so the most severely affected patients may be missing. It describes experiences and suggestions, not tested outcomes, so it cannot show that any change would improve care.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the request for a quiet room or more training as evidence that it works. The study interviewed 15 people about past experiences and did not test any service change.