RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Elderly peoples' experiences of discharge from hospital.
JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
JO J R Coll Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 17
OP 20
VO 39
IS 318
A1 J Harding
A1 M Modell
YR 1989
UL http://bjgp.org/content/39/318/17.abstract
AB In a study of patients' perceptions of the transition from hospital to the community, 115 elderly people registered with a central London group practice were interviewed shortly after they arrived home. Many patients received little notice of discharge, a third being told on the day they left the hospital. A third felt they had been discharged too soon and those living alone were significantly less likely to return to a heated home containing basic items of food. Seventy-seven patients, including 80% of those living alone were visited by family, friends or professionals within three days of coming home. Eighty-six per cent of non-professional visitors were women. Several of the elderly couples appeared to be under considerable stress and not all individuals were receiving the help they considered most appropriate to their needs. Many of the problems identified were due to poor communication between practice, hospital and patients. We suggest several measures aimed at improving the quality of that communication, so as to ensure that available resources can be mobilized to support this vulnerable group of people.