Pilots in the emergency department: caring for elderly emergency patients at the University Medical Center Mannheim

For demographic reasons, the average age of the approximately 20 million patients who present to emergency departments in Germany each year is constantly increasing.

Based on the experiences of a pilot study in the Central Emergency Department of the Benjamin Franklin Campus of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, volunteers are also to be trained and deployed as "emergency department pilots" at Mannheim University Hospital for the individual care and support of elderly patients with incipient dementia and/or delirium (acute state of confusion).

After appropriate training, the pilots' work primarily involves building trust with the patients. As a direct reference person, they help older people to find their way around their new environment, accompany them to examinations, support medical staff in gathering information or explaining planned treatment measures and look after the well-being of the patients. The activities are individually coordinated on site.

Further information can be found in the attached flyer.

Contact details for registrations can be found here

Thank you very much.