COVID‐19 and geriatric medicine in Australia and New Zealand.

Objective: To investigate geriatricians' views about issues facing geriatric medicine, and the preparedness of the health‐care system during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey of heads of geriatric medicine departments in hospitals in Australia and New Zealand undertaken in May 2020. Results: The majority of hospitals had admitted one or more patients with suspected COVID‐19. Most geriatricians believed their hospital was 'adequately' or 'well prepared' for the pandemic. Inpatient capacity increased to manage acute, post‐acute and rehabilitative care of older patients with COVID‐19. Non‐inpatient services for older people were reduced and telehealth‐instituted widely. Increases in work hours, on‐call and staffing levels were reported. Geriatricians voiced major concerns about the preparedness of residential aged care facilities to manage the pandemic. Conclusions: The COVID‐19 pandemic impacted on geriatricians and the provision of geriatric medicine services. Many issues that subsequently affected older people were predicted in advance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]