Emergency Department Boarding for Psychiatric Hospitalization in Older Adults: Placement Challenges and Associated Risks

The authors aimed to quantify the duration of emergency department (ED) boarding for older adults awaiting psychiatric hospitalization and to assess its association with functional decline and the use of physical restraints. Their study found that over half of the older adults boarded for more than 24 hours, with significant rates of functional decline and restraint episodes occurring primarily in this group, particularly among those with neurocognitive disorders. The findings highlight the challenges and risks associated with prolonged ED boarding in this vulnerable population.