TITLE:
Addressing Healthcare Needs in Older People after Discharge
AUTHORS:
Maria Grazia Proietti, Teresa Compagnone, Giuseppe Liotta
KEYWORDS:
Multidimensional Evaluation, Elderly, Hospital Discharge
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Aging Research,
Vol.3 No.3,
July
30,
2014
ABSTRACT: Healthcare needs
should be addressed even when patients return home. The purpose of this study
was to support a multidimensional assessment upon discharge to plan domiciliary
care. Materials and Methods: This is a multicentre cross-sectional study that
uses the Geriatric Functional Assessment questionnaire to assess healthcare
needs. The questionnaire was administered upon discharge to 358 people aged
over 65. Results: About 20% of our sample required healthcare support after
discharge and 32% needed some sort of supervision. Most of the healthcare
requirements involved socio-economic needs, neurological diseases, and
inability to autonomously perform instrumental activities of daily living. Discussion:
It is crucial to have an optimal discharge plan for older inpatients. Nurses
play a key role in managing the care continuum process, and they have the
instruments to select those requiring “supported discharge”, and collaborate
with district nurses who can arrange healthcare interventions jointly with
other professionals. They can facilitate access to resources, medical devices
and aids required to restore patient autonomy.