Cultivating Responsive Systems for the Care of Acutely and Critically Ill Older Adults

This article examines the importance of creating acute care systems that are responsive to the needs of acutely and critically ill and injured older adults. Four attributes of the responsive system are examined: elasticity, enabling, ease, and equanimity. An analytic literature review provides the basis for recommended practices by responsive professionals in responsive systems. Implications for practice, research, education, and policy are provided.