Elderly patients after they leave hospital.
A follow-up survey was conducted of 125 patients, aged 75 years and over, who had been discharged from a general teaching hospital in western Sydney. Assessments were made of the patients' functional status, living arrangements, reliance on family care and use of health and community services in the three-month period after discharge. Results indicate that immediately after leaving hospital more patients were living with family or friends than were prior to hospitalization and there was a slight increase in the number of patients who were living in nursing homes. However, by three months after discharge, the living arrangements resembled the pattern of arrangements before the hospital admission. At three months after discharge from hospital, 66% of patients were fully independent with regard to basic activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and eating, but only 34% of men and 17% of women were fully independent in broader activities such as shopping and meal preparation. By this stage, 88% of patients were in daily contact with family carers who were providing for many of their elderly relatives' needs. A consideration of the needs of carers upon admission to hospital of elderly patients and the provision of support services for carers after discharge should become high priorities in comprehensive geriatric care.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support