Purpose of the Study: To examine the effects of the present on admission (POA) indicator on the prevalence of and factors associated with postsurgical adverse events in older patients. Design and Methods: This is a secondary data analysis of 82,898 surgical patients aged 65 years or older in 252 acute care hospitals in California in 2004. Four…

Purpose To assess the effects of an interdisciplinary intervention on the trajectories of functional recovery among older patients with hip fracture during 2 years after hospitalization. Design and Methods In a randomized controlled trial with 24-month follow-up, 162 patients [greater than or equal to]60 years were enrolled after hip-fracture…

The Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock is addressing one of the most pressing policy issues facing the United States: how to care for the burgeoning number of older adults. In 2001, the Institute created the Arkansas Aging Initiative, which established seven satellite centers on…

Describes a hospital-based multidisciplinary team designed to assess and respond to cases of suspected abuse or neglect of elders from both institutional and community settings. Presence of the team has increased the hospital staff's awareness of elder abuse and neglect, as well as their willingness to refer suspected cases for further assessment.…

Surveyed a national sample of 416 hospitals to describe the range and frequency of services offered specifically for older adults and to identify characteristics of hospitals associated with particular services. The findings show that hospitals of all types throughout the nation offer a broad array of health and related social services for older…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between functional disability and the use of health care services in a nationally representative sample of older adults by using the Andersen behavioral model of health services utilization. Design and Methods: The study used 12 years of longitudinal…

Examined use of Geriatric Consultation Team in acute care hospital among 185 older veterans. Intervention patients were more likely than controls to have recommendations concerning discharge planning and long-term care. Groups had similar discharge placements. Preadmission location, functional status, mental status, occurrence of hospital-acquired…

Review of literature concerning effectiveness and cost of geriatric day hospitals revealed many descriptive studies and four randomized control studies. Of four studies, one demonstrated credible improvement in physical and emotional function in day hospital versus conventional care control group. Three randomized studies in which costs were…

Evaluated 24 hospital-based case management services. Found that case management could take variety of forms, ranging from postacute medical management service to planning community-based care for potential long-term care users. Future research should concentrate on documenting costs and outcomes of various models of case management in acute care…

Presents model for interdisciplinary discharge planning team, with emphasis on functional status and improved coordination and continuity among providers. Describes design and implementation of such a program at university hospital. Explains how model resulted in more patients being discussed and served, with more emphasis on the functional…

Surveyed discharge planners at 49 acute care hospitals to ascertain problems they perceived in placing elderly patients. Selected hospital characteristics and placement practices and the ways in which they are associated with hospital back-up (sometimes called administratively necessary days) and delays in placement were analyzed. (Author/JAC)

Reviewed 273 medical records and interviewed 42 referring physicians to examine effectiveness of geriatric day hospital (GDH). Found that GDH provided intensive outpatient care, geriatric assessment, rehabilitation, and alternative to hospitalization: 21 percent of physician-referred patients would have been hospitalized without GDH, 7 percent…

Compared patients (N=103) admitted to inpatient geriatric care unit focusing on restoration of functional status to control-unit patients (N=75). Found greater improvement in basic functional capabilities of study-unit than control-unit patients. Found mixed picture when length of stay and total charges of study- and control-unit patients were…

Content analyses of case records and follow-up interviews with former clients of hospital social workers explored: (1) the primary social needs dealt with by the social workers; (2) clients' perceptions of their social needs during the hospitalization; (3) clients' perceptions of the social workers role, and satisfaction with social service.…

Purpose: The psychiatric home visit is an effective intervention for elderly patients who otherwise would not receive mental health services. Home visits also have potential to be useful for training. Here, the current practice of home visits in geropsychiatry fellowship programs is examined. Design and Methods: The directors of 55 current…