Assessment and treatment of acute illnesses in older adults.

Most patients are admitted from the emergency department, the acute internal medicine ward, or other acute care units. Many are later transferred within the hospital for continued treatment and rehabilitation at Landakot. The goal is to discharge all patients either to their own homes or to a nursing home.

• Many patients are frail, have functional impairments, and suffer from geriatric syndromes, often compounded by acute illness.

• Gaps in support systems may also make it difficult for elderly individuals to remain at home.

For safety reasons, the ward is locked, and it is important to notify staff if a patient is taken off the ward.