The accident department and Age Concern.

Accident and Emergency Departments are increasingly becoming major providers of primary health care to the elderly. The attendance of an elderly person at an Accident Department may be associated with loss of independence and this may lead to admission to hospital. Such admissions, may sometimes, be avoided by the provision of immediate social support in the community. For five years, we have worked with the Age Concern after-care officer who is able to provide such assistance by liaison with the Social Services. To provide longer-term help, she works closely with the community-based Age Concern network. The Community and Social Services, as well as the Hospital-based services, have benefited from her presence.