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Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Discharge destination from an acute care for the elderly (ACE) unit
Luis F Amador1, Carlos A Reyes-Ortiz, Diana Reed
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, TX, USA. lfamador@utmb.edu
Clinical Interventions in Aging
|November 30, 2007
Summary
Older adults discharged from acute care for the elderly (ACE) units most often return home. However, the oldest patients and those from long-term care facilities were less likely to return home after discharge.
Area of Science:
- Geriatrics
- Healthcare Management
- Public Health
Background:
- Older adults (65+) represent a significant portion of hospitalizations and discharges.
- Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) units are specialized geriatric inpatient services.
- Understanding discharge destinations is crucial for optimizing care transitions for older patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the discharge placement and characteristics of older patients leaving an ACE unit.
- To identify factors influencing discharge destinations for geriatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1,351 patients aged 65+ discharged from an ACE unit over 12 months.
- Data collection on patient demographics, admission source, and discharge destination.
- Statistical analysis to determine characteristics associated with different discharge placements.
Main Results:
- The average monthly discharge rate was 109.2 patients.
- The majority of patients (62.3%) were discharged to home or home with home health services.
- Older patients and those admitted from long-term care or skilled nursing facilities had lower rates of returning home.
Conclusions:
- Most older adults discharged from ACE units return home, indicating successful transitions for many.
- Discharge destination is influenced by patient age and prior living situation.
- Further research is needed to support successful home reintegration for the most vulnerable older adults.
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