Systemic redesign of emergency care needed to address dementia patient safety
Original framing: “How to make emergency rooms safer for people with dementia” — STAT News
In many African and Asian countries, community-based care models have been more effective in supporting aging populations, with strong intergenerational bonds and holistic approaches to health. These models can provide valuable lessons for rethinking emergency care in Western systems.
To create safer emergency rooms for people with dementia, a systemic approach is required that integrates Indigenous and cross-cultural models of elder care, historical insights into the evolution of emergency medicine, and scientific evidence on effective interventions.
Marginalized voices, including those of dementia patients and caregivers, must be centered in policy and design decisions. Future planning should model the aging of the global population and prioritize community-based care partnerships. By combining these dimensions, emergency care systems can be restructured to be more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable.