Inclusion of Informal Carers in the Care of Older Adults in the Emergency Department: An Integrative Review.
Belinda Nichols, Christina Aggar, Ya-Ling Huang
PMID 40490885WHAT IT FOUND
Carers of older adults in emergency departments provide vital baseline information and emotional support, but often feel excluded by restrictive policies or busy staff.
Successful inclusion requires clear communication, carer education, and flexible visitation policies to ensure safe care and discharge.
Key findings
01Carers act as advocates by providing nurses with essential information on the patient's baseline health, behaviour, and medications, which is critical when the patient has cognitive impairment.
02Restrictive visitation policies and healthcare professionals' failure to listen to carers lead to feelings of exclusion, powerlessness, and increased stress for carers.
03Carers require specific education and resources to navigate the healthcare system and effectively advocate for the older adult's needs.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 10 studies were included, limiting the breadth of evidence. 9 of the 10 studies were qualitative, which may limit generalisability. The studies were of moderate quality (MMAT scores 3-4). Only English-language articles were included, potentially missing relevant non-English perspectives.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that including carers always improves patient outcomes based on this review alone. The evidence is qualitative and descriptive, showing carers' experiences and perceptions rather than measuring clinical endpoints like mortality or readmission rates.