[Emergency medical services in a hyper-aged society].

ABSTRACT

The number of people aged 65 and older in Japan has reached 23.3%. The annual rate of presentations to hospital emergency departments(ED) has increased substantially and older patients are represented in this increase. By 2060 the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to double to 40%, and ED transfers and hospital admissions will increase significantly. Facilities will need to plan to accommodate increasingly greater demands for ED and hospital services.