Taiwan’s population aging rate ranks first in the world. The population of elderly over the age of 65 reached 12% of the total population in 2015 and is expected to rise rapidly to 20% by 2025, becoming a "super-aged society". The rate of use of medical resources by the elderly is much higher than that of other age groups. According to the statistics of the National Health Insurance Agency, the current medical expenditure of the elderly population accounts for about 33% of the country, and it is expected to rise to 50% by 2025. The elderly often have complicated medical conditions, recurrence of disease, failure to receive appropriate treatment, and psychological or socioeconomic issues, all resulting in a high rate of medical resource consumption. Therefore, a rapidly aging society will have a great impact on the medical system.

Because the emergency department operates 24 hours a day, it is frequently a point-of-entry for the elderly. The ED is also an important hub between home care, long-term care, outpatient care and hospitalization. Emergency treatment deeply affects disposition, follow-up treatment, cost and prognosis of elderly patients. However, the general emergency department is not specifically designed for the elderly. Not only is the environment not friendly to the elderly, but medical staff are frequently lacking in knowledge of geriatric medicine. Also, follow-up resources are frequently not integrated. These problems will lead to repeat visits to the ED and hospitalizations for the elderly. Not only is this a heavy burden on the elderly and their families, but also a serious waste of medical resources. The emergency departments of advanced countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have already begun to improve the treatment model of elderly emergency patients, where specialized "geriatric emergency departments" have appeared. However, the emergency departments in Taiwan have yet to respond to this important issue. Therefore, with the support of our superintendent, while upholding Chi Mei Hospital’s vision of "becoming the most trusted health care system" and a core value of "compassion", we established the "Chi-Mei integrated Geriatric Emergency Team" (CiGET), led by ED Chief Chien-Chin Hsu. This is an interdisciplinary collaboration with the nursing department, integrated wards (gerontology, holistic medicine, general internal medicine), palliative medicine, social services, nutrition, rehabilitation, pharmacy and psychiatric departments. To further improve the quality of emergency care for the elderly in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi Mei Hospital established the "Geriatric Emergency Department" in 2019. This is the first not only in Taiwan, but in all of Asia. We strive to be a model for other hospitals, leading emergency departments to improve medical care for the elderly. In 2021, on behalf of the Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine, we are now heading the "Counseling Hospitals to Promote Elderly Care Model” initiative of the National Health Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Our professional team will provide counseling and training at pilot hospital emergency departments to jointly establish the geriatric-friendly care throughout Taiwan. The geriatric emergency team has been planted firmly at Chi Mei Hospital and we now look forward to the spread and growth of this model at ED’s around the island. We always believe that “to now treat the elderly well is to treat our future self well”! Working hard for the elderly now is working hard for our future selves!