Including unpaid caregivers into discharge planning for the elderly patient population reduces readmissions.
The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society published the study. Researchers conducted a systemic review of previous research designed to assess the effect of caregiver integration in discharge planning on healthcare costs. Analysis of the studies revealed integrating informal caregivers — often times spouses or family members — into the discharge planning practice was associated with a 25 percent reduction in the likelihood of an elderly patient being readmitted to the hospital within 90 days of discharge and a 24 percent reduction in the possibility of readmission within 180 days of discharge.
Lisa Remington is president and publisher of the Remington Report magazine and President of Remington’s Home Care Leadership Think Tank. She has worked with more than 10,000 organizations in both a consultancy role and an educator. Lisa monitors the complex key trends and forces of change to develop a correct strategic approach to de-risk decision-making and create sustainable futures across the healthcare continuum.