New care models for older adults seeking emergency care Professors Katie Robinson and Rose Galvin from the Ageing Research Centre at the University of Limerick describe research on new models of care for older adults seeking emergency care. Research notes that emergency department crowding leads to long waiting times, treatment delays, increased costs, staff burnout and reduced patient satisfaction. While the problem of emergency department crowding is multifaceted and complex, and no magic bullet will resolve the issue, researchers at the Ageing Research Centre UL are exploring how new modes of care for older adults seeking emergency care can improve their overall care experience and clinical outcomes while reducing unscheduled care use. Analysing two trials, the OPTIMEND randomised controlled trial and the ED PLUS pilot trial, the University of Limerick plans to establish what outcomes should be evaluated in ED studies with older adults. They will also be working to develop standards of care for frail older adults attending the ED and a larger-scale evaluation of ED PLUS as well.