‘… well i got no option’: Consumer perspective on discharge planning to residential aged care

Abstract

This research takes a preliminary look at the quality of discharge planning from acute hospital to residential care from the consumer's view. This was a pilot study undertaken at a metropolitan public hospital in Perth, Western Australia. The final sample was very small and hence the findings cannot be generalised to the broader population. The observation that transition to residential care is a stressful experience for both patients and their families (Zarit & Whitlatch 1992, Kaplan & Ade-Ridder 1991, Brody 1977) was supported by the findings of the study. In particular, patients reported a lack of involvement in the process of arranging residential care. Social workers were found to have helped consumers with finding vacancies. However, there was little evidence of assistance with emotion-focused coping. Standard of care in the hospital also emerged as a significant issue. Although family members were prepared to voice their concerns, patients tended to accept whatever services they received. The research raised issues relevant to the hospital and aged care policy and highlighted significant areas of future inquiry.