WHO/Europe – Do current discharge arrangements from inpatient hospital care

for the elderly reduce readmission rates, the length of inpatient stay or mortality, or improve health status?

For many older people, admission to an acute hospital is associated with a decline in physical functioning, which is not always recovered at the time of discharge, or even soon.

Iatrogenic deterioration is not uncommon and, with extended stays, both informal and formal patterns of support at home may be disrupted and make a return to independent living extremely difficult.

Thus, hospital discharge arrangements are a key issue in ensuring the safe and effective transfer of older people between inpatient hospital care, and community-based home care.

A Health Evidence Network (HEN) evidence report shows that it is possible to reduce the rate of hospital readmission of elderly people.

Report