Loss of Autonomy in Frail Elderly and the Cross-National Comparison of Differences in Treatment Approaches: A Common Project of the EAMA

Abstract

A vignette case of an 82-year-old woman, hospitalised in a geriatric ward, was presented as part of an examination of how geriatric patients are treated in different countries and what the main divergences are. Standardised questionnaires were sent to the participants concerning different components of assessment, acceptance of geriatricians, medication, financial resources, social situations, and structures of geriatrics. In this cross-national comparison, 23 % of hospitals assessed were found without their own geriatric ward and in most cases, no geriatricians were present in the emergency department. Complementary assessment tools of nutritional and neuropsychological status were found to be regularly used in practice, as well as assessment tools regarding mood, mobility and cognition. Differences were found in prescription of appropriate medication, planning of ambulatory care and organisation of residential homecare, as well as problems of securing funding sources. The results show that the recognition of geriatric medicine in the different countries varies widely. Harmonising acute and long-term care for geriatric patients is only feasible with the use of international networking and common scientific projects. This underlines the importance of an institution like the European Academy of Medicine of Ageing (EAMA). © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.