Living arrangements decisions at discharge and later: differences in criteria and outcomes

This study examined the pattern of post rehabilitation living arrangements over 18 months of 172 adults discharged from a geriatric rehabilitation unit at a large urban medical center, all of whom were living alone prior to admission. Results showed the diminishing importance of physical function and cognition as factors in decisions to return home as the length of time after hospital discharge increased. Patients who returned home to live alone after a period of time living in more supported environments had significantly lower assessment scores on physical function (p < 0.001) and cognition (p < 0.001) compared to patients who went home to live alone immediately upon discharge. As well, patients who returned home to live alone later than three months post discharge were significantly more likely to move to more supported environments by 18 months after discharge (p = 0.043) and to experience re-hospitalizations (p = 0.008), which raises questions about the appropriateness of these later decisions.