Adequacy of Informal Care for Elderly Patients Going Home from the Hospital: Discharge Planner Perspectives

This study addresses discharge planners'perspectives on the adequacy of informal care expected to be provided to older adults immediately following discharge from the hospital to home care. Professional discharge planners anticipated that 25% of the caregiving units would be deficient in performing the tasks expected of them because patient care was too demanding, the caregiver had too many other duties, and the caregiver was too frail. Patients with more physical and cognitive disabilities were viewed to be at risk of inadequate informal care, as were poorer patients and patients living alone. Age of caregiver and size of helping network were not related to adequacy ratings. However, adult children, as opposed to spouses or other relatives, were expected to provide better care to confused older adults.