Receiving support for self-care skills during post-hospitalization transition in homes for the elderly: An unmet need

Introduction: Elderly people who receive appropriate transitional care after hospitalization experience fewer complications.
Context: However, in Quebec, transitional care for the elderly is limited to case management and targets elderly people who are in need of resources. This often excludes those who remain in homes for the elderly.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the unmet needs of elderly people during the posthospitalization transition to intermediate care facilities in Quebec, as well as the strategies they use on a daily basis to cope with these needs.
Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted as part of an intervention research process. Eleven elderly participants and health professionals were recruited (n=11).
Results: The results presented suggest a need to support patients’ capacity for self-care, unmet during the post-hospitalization transition to intermediate care facilities.
Discussion: Supporting the self-care abilities of elderly people can help ensure their safety when living in homes for the elderly.
Conclusion: Supporting the capacity for self-care is an important component of transitional care after hospitalization, including for elderly people with disabilities.