Barriers to a Timely Discharge From Short-Term Care in VA Community Living Centers

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to identify the barriers to a timely discharge from short-term care in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Community Living Centers (CLCs). Ninety-nine interviews were conducted with CLC staff in leadership and direct-care positions in eight varied CLCs. Major themes identified through qualitative analysis as barriers to a timely discharge were a lack of patients’ financial resources, low social support, and reluctance of some veterans and staff to view a timely veteran discharge as their goal. Staff also perceived that barriers were much more difficult to overcome in regions where community-based long-term services and supports were limited or nonexistent. Because VHA has lagged behind Medicaid more generally in terms of investment in these types of services, additional strategies are warranted to achieve the important policy goal of deinstitutionalizing VHA care and returning veterans to their homes in the community.

KEYWORDS:

• Nursing homes
• length of stay
• discharge planning
• long-term services and supports

Acknowledgments

This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development, Merit Review Award CRE12-036.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (CRE12-036).