Analysis of the activities of a geriatric assessment and rehabilitation unit.
In a four month period 228 patients were admitted to the Wakari assessment and rehabilitation unit in Dunedin, New Zealand. One hundred and seventy subjects came from the community, 35 were transferred from the local public hospital, and 23 were readmitted. Median lengths of stay were 13, 26 and 10 days respectively. Assessment of activities of daily living (ADL) dependency on admission and discharge showed a significant improvement in ability by discharge, which correlated closely with place to which subjects were discharged, and with survival. There was 5% inpatients death rate which cumulated to 18%, 23%, 34%, 39% and 46% by six weeks, three months, six months, nine months and one year respectively. High discharge dependency was closely related to poor survival after discharge. Use of domiciliary services did not change because the savings from those who moved into institutions were cancelled out by those who were discharged back to the community being in need of increased social support.
Caradoc-Davies
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D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D009520:New Zealand; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*