With the number of older people increasing in our population, the need to ensure that they receive appropriate care in our healthcare system also increases. An 86% increase in the number of over 75 year olds is predicted between 2012 and 2037.

Since April 2012 Healthcare Improvement Scotland has been leading a programme of national improvement support for older people in acute care. The programme has focused on two critical areas, which are the identification and immediate management for older people with frailty and/or delirium.

We have worked with staff at the following hospitals to test delirium and frailty assessment tools on frontline wards with the aim to drive improvement in older people's care:

• Crosshouse Hospital, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
• the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian and
• the Southern General Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The results have shown that our delirium and frailty assessment tools work and are making a real difference to the care of older people in Scottish hospitals.

Please view the video toolkit and the report for more information.