Experiences of Ambulatory Care for Frail, Older People and Their Carers During Acute Illness: A Qualitative, Ethnographic Study

Increased age is associated with increased emergency department attendance and emergency hospital admissions,1 but there is evidence that the acute hospital environment is unsuited to older people with frailty.2–5 There are policy imperatives to increase the acute care delivered outside traditional hospital settings.6 For some patients, acute care can be delivered on an ambulatory basis,7 but the impact on them is uncertain.