Grant: Project Grant

A large number of frail older adults have difficulty performing activities of daily living and resuming former roles in the months following hospital discharge. This increases the risk of unplanned hospital readmissions and emergency visits after they return home. Comprehensive, patient-centered discharge planning has been reported to improve older adults' ability to perform activities of daily living and to reduce readmission rates after hospital discharge. However, to our knowledge, no evidence-based discharge protocol is routinely used in Canada with the frail population. An innovative discharge planning protocol called "HOME" was recently developed in Australia. The HOME intervention includes: 1) hospital-based partnership with patient and family to establish goal setting and problem solving; 2) pre-discharge home assessment to address safety issues and problems with patient and family; 3) post-discharge home assessment and in-home training to address unmet needs; and 4) follow-up telephone calls to provide ongoing support to patient and family. A Canadian version of HOME has been developed. This will be followed by a large trial to investigate if this intervention increases functioning in daily life activities and decreases hospital and emergency readmissions for frail patients who are discharged home. Our proposed study is a preliminary and necessary step to identify problems that may arise during this large trial and address them proactively. If proven beneficial, the Canadian version of HOME would be an appropriate, applicable and acceptable intervention to improve patients' experiences and outcomes as well as change health practice surroundings discharge planning with frail older adults.