RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Survey of carers of elderly patients discharged from hospital.
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 105
OP 108
VO 41
IS 344
A1 E I Williams
A1 F Fitton
YR 1991
UL http://bjgp.org/content/41/344/105.abstract
AB As part of a study to determine reasons for early unplanned readmission of elderly patients to hospital, the problems experienced by the carers of two groups of patients aged 65 years and over were analysed. Carers of 100 patients who had been readmitted in an emergency and 93 control patients were interviewed. The majority of carers were aged 60 year or over and two thirds were women. Forty one per cent of the carers were the patient's spouse. Forty per cent of the carers did not live with the patient. Many of the carers had been attending to the personal and domestic needs of their dependents for a considerable time. Carers complained about the effect the task had on their own health and the high levels of frustration experienced. Carer problems were important principal and contributory reasons for readmission. Carers of readmitted patients experienced more problems, frustrations and concerns than the carers of control patients. It is suggested that communication between professionals and carers should be improved, and, in particular, that the needs of carers should be assessed before discharge of patients from hospital.