Gerontology & Geriatric Research

GERIATRIC TRANSITIONAL CARE: BRIDGING THE GAP

4^th International Conference on Geriatrics & Gerontological Nursing

October 3-4, 2016 | London, UK

Samina Ladha

University of Alberta, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Gerontol Geriat Res

Abstract:

Background: In many countries, including Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Japan and Sweden, many health care systems promote the slogan of shortened hospital stays, due to which many of the elderly are facing problems with serious negative implications for their well being because of the lack of continuity of care during the transition from hospital to another health care setting ( Tomura, Yamamoto-Mitani, Nagata, Murashima, & Suzuki, 2011). We could say that it is an important concern for those elderly people who are unable to maintain their wellbeing without the support of health care services, making them more susceptible to avoidable readmissions. Objective: This paper reports our exploration of the link between transitional care and frequent rehospitalisation of older adults with chronic illness. Method: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, based on computerized databases of MED Pub, CINAHL, and Medline; a numerous studies were retrieved by using keywords such as older adult, Transitional care, discharge teaching, acute care, chronic illness, and rehospitalisation. Discussion: The overview of literature exhibits that interventions like arranging follow-up and educating patients will not likely improve the quality of patient care but reduce rehospitalisation. Evidences from the literature suggest that holistic and multifaceted interventions are required for better quality care. Conclusion: Based on the above presented literature review, it can be concluded that despite the increasing quantity of older adults using long-term and post-acute care services, there is still a knowledge gap about the transition from hospital to other health care settings.