The problems of elderly people at home one week after discharge from an acute care setting

• Published in: Journal of advanced nursing Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 1233 - 1240
• Main Authors: Mistiaen, P., Duijnhouwer, E., Wijkel, D., Bont, M. de, Veeger, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.1997
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adaptation, Psychological; Aftercare; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Elderly people; Female; Health Services for the Aged; Health Services Needs and Demand; Health Status; Home Care Services; Hospital discharged; Humans; Male; Needs assessment; Netherlands; Nursing; Patient Discharge; Netherlands
• ISSN: 0309-2402; 1365-2648
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1997.19970251233.x

The problems of elderly people following discharge from hospital is a worldwide focus of nursing attention. Actual and local insight into the nature worldwide focus of nursing attention. Actual and local insight into the nature and extent of post‐discharge problems is needed as a base for improving and evaluating discharge planning. Problems following discharge were investigated as the first part of a larger study. Over a 3‐month period, 251 elderly people who had been discharged after a hospital stay of more than 3 days. Were asked to participate in the study. Half received a postal questionnaire and half were interviewed at home, one week after discharge. There were 145 respondent. The need for information was mentioned by 80% of the patients. Housekeeping tasks also caused most patients some difficulty. Almost 40% of those discharged reported some kind of unmet need.