Posters

BACKGROUND Major trauma is conventionally associated with high-energy mechanisms such as road traffic collisions or falls from height. However, ground-level falls (GLFs) , defined as unintentional descents to the ground from standing height or below , are an increasingly recognised cause of serious injury and death in older adults.[1,2] Despite appearing to involve low-energy forces, GLFs frequently result in devastating injuries in elderly patients, driven by age-related physiological changes including osteoporosis, frailty, and anticoagulant use.[3,5] With the UK's older population growing

BACKGROUND Early dementia diagnosis brings significant benefits - enabling patients and families to plan ahead, access support services, begin appropriate disease management, and potentially participate in clinical trials.[1] In the UK, the majority of patients with cognitive concerns first present to their general practitioner (GP). Despite national efforts to improve early detection, NHS England data from 2024 indicate that only around 65% of people aged 65 and over estimated to have dementia had a formally recorded diagnosis,[2] suggesting a persistent diagnostic gap. Timely diagnosis is

Introduction: Many people living with dementia have one or more physical health conditions. For example, they may have heart problems, cancer, diabetes or vision difficulties. These conditions are likely to require attendance at hospital appointments, which can be difficult for people with dementia and those who support them. Aims: To co-design and test a toolkit to help staff improve experiences of hospital outpatient appointments for people living with dementia and their families. Methods: We undertook an ethnographic study in five general hospital outpatient departments. Interviews

Background: Rib fractures in older adults are a marker of physiological vulnerability and are associated with complications that can extend well beyond the inpatient stay. While advanced thoracic analgesia and regional techniques are widely used to reduce pain, splinting, and respiratory deterioration, the relationship between these interventions and post-discharge outcomes is less clearly described. We evaluated 30-day post-discharge mortality in patients aged ≥65 admitted with rib fractures, comparing those who received advanced thoracic analgesia/regional intervention versus those who did

Abstract Content - Background: Tandem stance is a key measure of static balance, yet existing tests often lack standardization, rely on ordinal scoring, and fail to account for upper-limb support, reducing accuracy and sensitivity. The SAS Mat was developed to address these limitations. The Mat can be used as the SAS Measure of tandem balance, and as a balance training tool. This study evaluated its test–retest reliability, convergent validity, acceptability, and feasibility in healthy older adults. Methods: A convenience sample of 44 community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years, with independent

Case study of an older person with traumatic brain injury: from Greece to Glasgow, complicated by infection control protocols Introduction: The average age of major trauma (MT) patients in Scotland is now 70 years, reflecting a rising trend, with falls from standing the most common mechanism of injury (STAG Report, 2024). Older adults frequently present added complexity due to frailty and comorbidities. This case describes an older adult who sustained a traumatic brain injury abroad and, following repatriation under strict infection‑control precautions, received complex in‑reach MT

Introduction Well-being is increasingly recognised as a core outcome in dementia care; however, existing measures largely focus on hedonic aspects such as mood or comfort. Meaning-based (eudaimonic) well-being, encompassing purpose, autonomy and engagement, remains poorly defined and difficult to assess in people with dementia, particularly due to cognitive impairment and limitations in self-report. This study describes the development and validation of the Well-being in Dementia Inventory (WiDI), a novel proxy-rated measure designed to capture deeper dimensions of well-being in this

Background: Long-term adherence to exercise and digital health interventions is critical but remains a major challenge, particularly among older people. While balance exercise is effective in preventing falls, little is known about how older people engage with such programs over time, and what drives sustained adherence. Methods: We analysed adherence data from 511 community-living older people who participated in a home-based digital balance exercise program for 52 weeks. Participants were prescribed two hours of exercise per week, with progressive weekly targets and adherence automatically

Introduction The World Falls Guidelines introduced an algorithm for clinical practitioners to assess risk of falls in older adults. Digital tools can provide a way for people to self-assess, but for such tools to be successful they need to be co-designed with the people who are likely to use them. This project involved the co-design of a digital prototype to self-assess falls risk and be directed towards appropriate local support within one NHS board in Scotland, UK. Method Our overall approach was qualitative, participatory research. Participants were recruited through local third sector

Introduction Older adults form an increasing proportion of trauma admissions, with low-level falls accounting for most injuries. Ageing is associated with reduced physiological reserve, multimorbidity, and greater vulnerability, leading to higher mortality even after low-energy trauma. As geriatric trauma increases, there is increasing emphasis on frailty assessment, prognostication, and advance care planning to support appropriate, patient-centred decisions. This study aimed to identify which injury patterns contribute to increased mortality in the local geriatric trauma population and

Introduction Significant injuries are often missed in patients over 65. This may reflect the perception that low-energy mechanisms are unlikely to cause injury, distracting injuries, communication barriers, or a combination of factors. Delayed fracture diagnosis adversely impacts patient outcomes. A silver trauma screening tool was developed in line with new trust guidance. It recommends that all patients aged over 65 with a Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale score >5 presenting following a fall undergo trauma screening on admission. The tool consists of shake (cervical spine fractures), rattle

Aim: Optimising the management of older patients admitted with intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) to a District General Hospital. Methodology: This retrospective quality improvement project included patients >65 years old admitted with ICH under the general surgical team over a six-month period (01/01/2025-01/07/2025). Data was collected from the electronic health record (Cerner) and outcomes were analysed. Data will be presented as median (range) unless stated otherwise. Statistical analysis conducted on GraphPad Prism. Results: 62 patients were included, aged 84 (65-99) years. Thirty-three

Introduction: Optimising the management of older patients with rib fractures at a District General Hospital. Method: This retrospective quality improvement project included all patients >65 years old admitted with rib fractures over a six-month period (01/01/2025–01/07/2025). Data was collected from the electronic health record (Cerner). Data will be presented as median (range). Statistical analysis conducted on GraphPad Prism. Results: 81 patients were included, aged 82 (65-100) years. Fifty patients (61%) had a clinical frailty score (CFS) The average battle score was 23, with twenty-seven

Background: Geriatric trauma admissions continue to rise, yet optimal care pathways for this population remain poorly defined. Although trauma centre care improves outcomes in the general trauma population and palliative care is known to support patients with complex needs, their combined value in geriatric trauma remains unclear. At The Hillingdon Hospitals (THH), we observed that older trauma patients frequently lacked timely recognition of dying, received delayed or absent ceilings of care, and often underwent prolonged active treatment despite frailty, comorbidities, or prior care

Background: Delirium is a frequent and serious complication in older trauma patients, affecting an estimated 20–60%, particularly after fractures, spinal injuries, and prolonged immobilization. It typically arises from a combination of factors, including the acute effects of injury, pain, polypharmacy, infection, constipation, urinary retention, and physiological stress layered onto existing comorbidities and reduced cognitive reserve. Despite its impact, delirium is often under-recognised in busy ward settings, where hypoactive presentations are easily mistaken for fatigue, low mood, or

Introduction Computed tomography (CT) of the brain plays a crucial role in identifying pathologies responsible for acute confusion and reductions in Glasgow Coma Score (GCS). The quality of radiological request forms is essential to both radiographers and radiologists, with inadequate detail leading to avoidable delays and a reduction in diagnostic accuracy. This Quality Improvement Project (QIP) aims to improve the quality of CT brain requests submitted to investigate acute confusion and reduced GCS between December 2025 and February 2026, from the Care of the Elderly (COTE) wards and the

Introduction Delirium is a common but serious complication in older surgical patients, associated with increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged length of stay and poorer long-term outcomes. NICE guidance recommends all patients are observed daily for signs of delirium and promotes a multidisciplinary approach to prevention and management. The diagnosis and documentation of delirium is important for coding, handover of care and for helping patients and families understand their symptoms.  Methods  Clinical notes of patients aged ≥65 discharged from general surgery in January 2025 (n = 38)

Introduction  Delirium is a common but serious complication in older surgical patients, associated with increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged length of stay and poorer long-term outcomes. NICE guidance recommends all patients are observed daily for signs of delirium and promotes a multidisciplinary approach to prevention and management. The diagnosis and documentation of delirium is important for coding, handover of care and for helping patients and families understand their symptoms.  Methods  Clinical notes of patients aged ≥65 discharged from general surgery in January 2025 (n = 38)

Background Understanding a patient’s usual cognition and communication needs is central to preventing delirium. The ‘Get to Know Me’ booklet is intended to capture this information early in admission and support personalised care. Locally, use of the booklet was inconsistent, and foundation doctors reported they were often unaware it existed, unsure where it was kept, and unclear whose role it was to supply it. This project aimed to improve awareness, confidence and use through a focused teaching intervention. Methods Foundation doctors completed a baseline questionnaire assessing awareness

Introduction: Dysphagia is common in older people and is associated with aspiration and respiratory complications, particularly in those with cervical spine fractures1. A pilot study (2021) led to standards of care (SOP), developed with SLT team, for staff training to initiate early bedside dysphagia screening to mitigate respiratory complications and improve outcomes. Aim: To evaluate whether bedside dysphagia screening in older patients admitted with cervical spine fractures can mitigate aspiration and respiratory complications. Method: A retrospective cohort study using electronic records