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Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open
Journal article
Inclusion of Informal Carers in the Care of Older Adults in the Emergency Department: An Integrative Review
Journal of clinical nursing, Vol.34(11), pp.4357-4546
11/2025
PMID: 40490885
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Aim: To review primary research reporting the inclusion of informal carers in caring for older people in the emergency
department.
Design: An integrative review employing Whittemore and Knafl's updated integrative review methodology.
Methods: A systematic search was undertaken between November 2023 and September 2024. Ten articles met the inclusion
criteria of primary research reporting the inclusion of carers in the care of older adults in the emergency department. Exclusion
criteria included studies conducted outside of the emergency department, not carer-related, and those not restricted to carers of
older adults. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess the quality of the articles.
Data Sources: Medline @ Ovid, EBSCO, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane, EMBASE and SCOPUS.
Results: Thematic analysis produced two reoccurring themes: Carers as advocates and Carers as outsiders. Through sharing of
information and support of the older adult, carers can act as advocates. Restrictive admission policies, exclusion from decisionmaking processes, and failure to be heard by the healthcare professional resulted in carers feeling like outsiders.
Conclusion: Including carers is essential to support the care of vulnerable older adults in the emergency department. Care partnerships between healthcare professionals and carers can be enhanced with education on effective and respectful communication processes and support of carer well-being.
Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: This review highlights the essential nature of care partnerships involving informal carers in the emergency department for providing high-quality care to older adults with complex care needs. An
appropriate carer inclusion programme could support emergency department clinicians, carers and older adults.
Reporting Method: The PRISMA 2020 checklist was used to ensure adherence to review processes.
Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution
Details
- Title
- Inclusion of Informal Carers in the Care of Older Adults in the Emergency Department: An Integrative Review
- Creators
- Belinda Nichols - Southern Cross UniversityChristina Aggar - Southern Cross UniversityYa-Ling Huang - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Journal of clinical nursing, Vol.34(11), pp.4357-4546
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- Southern Cross University (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/501100001770) Australian University Librarians
- Identifiers
- 991013287147102368
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s).
- Academic Unit
- Nursing; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article