Nurse-led multidisciplinary initiatives to improve outcomes and reduce hospital admissions for older adults: The Care coordination through Emergency Department, Residential Aged Care and Primary Health Collaboration project.

OBJECTIVES: This article describes the Care coordination through Emergency Department, Residential Aged Care and Primary Health Collaboration (CEDRiC) project.

METHODS: CEDRiC is designed to improve the health outcomes for older people with an acute illness. It attempts this via enhanced primary care in residential aged care facilities, focused and streamlined care in the emergency department and enhanced intersectoral communication and referral.

RESULTS: Implementing this approach has the potential to decrease inappropriate hospital admissions while improving care for older people in residential aged care and community settings.

CONCLUSION: This article discusses an innovative way of caring for older adults in an ageing population utilising the existing evidence. A formal evaluation is currently underway.