This single day plenary conference will address the following themes:

Theme 1. Important medical conditions for older patients in acute hospital setting

• This theme will contain several presentations on a selection of important medical topics for older patients in the acute hospital setting including specific geriatric syndromes, atypical presentations in older people, pain management, polypharmacy and Advance Care Planning. The overall take home message of this theme is: understand that older patients are a different population with other presentations and needs in the acute hospital setting than their younger counterparts.

Theme 2. Organisation of care for acutely presenting older patients

• This theme will contain two presentations on the organisation of acute care for older patients. An overview will be given of similarities and differences and the pros and cons of different health care systems. The overall take home messages of this theme are: understand that acute care necessitates a network organisation, be aware of the difficulties and gaps in the organisation of acute care for older patients and think of what we can learn from other systems.

Theme 3. Programs to improve care/science projects

• This theme will contain several short presentations on existing innovations and research projects to improve care for older patients in the acute hospital setting of different hospitals. There will be room for 5 short presentations on topics like transitional care, screening of older patients and the effects of geriatric medicine training on the Emergency Department. The overall take home message of this theme is: learn from others innovations or best practises to improve the care for acutely presenting older patients.

The themes will be addressed with interactive presentations and plenary discussions. To allow for (a limited number of) foreign guests and speakers, the program will be presented in English.

Objectives:
- Generate awareness among health care professionals working with older patients in the acute hospital setting about the differences in good care for this vulnerable population.
- Teach medical staff and others about specific geriatric syndromes, atypical presentation in acute hospital setting and differences in vulnerability among older patients.
- Generate awareness of the difficulties and gaps in the organisation of acute care for older patients and inform about different systems: what can we learn from each other?
- Give all delegates information about existing innovations and research in the acute hospital setting (ED or emergency ward) to improve care for older patients.