Pre-discharge home visits with older people: time to review practice.
The present review paper uses the available evidence to make a case for a reconsideration of the practice of undertaking pre-discharge home visits with frail older people as part of decisions regarding a return home. This practice is embedded into the routine activity of acute medical wards for older people and occupies a large proportion of the time of hospital employed therapy staff, with consequent financial and resource implications. Assessments are often conducted to provide information on safe discharge rather than being located in the interests of the older person and their carer. The introduction of a new range of services bridging hospital and home raises the need for an urgent, critical appraisal of this practice.
Mountain
Gail
G
School of Health and Social Care, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.
Pighills
Alison
A
D000368:Aged; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006792:House Calls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D006113:United Kingdom