Principles of rehabilitation in geriatric emergency medicine

Abstract

Rehabilitation is an integral part of geriatric medicine. Geriatric emergency medicine is where rehabilitation begins. It is not a separate part of the care process that takes place later on. This chapter will explain why rehabilitation is so important for older patients and the knowledge and skills clinicians working in geriatric emergency medicine must develop in order to achieve the best outcomes for their patients. In this chapter we will: Learn how the inclusion of rehabilitation by the early pioneers of geriatric medicine allowed it to develop into the unique speciality it is today. Introduce an internationally recognised framework for rehabilitation, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the related World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). Review the factors that make older people admitted to emergency care vulnerable to poor outcomes in terms of function and well-being. Discuss how a collaborative, interdisciplinary rehabilitation approach from the beginning of an episode of care is significant for individuals to achieve the best possible outcome. Identify the skills and attributes clinicians in geriatric emergency medicine must develop in order to ensure the best rehabilitation outcomes for patients.