‘Is my journey destination home?’ Exploring the experiences of older adults who undertake a transition care programme: a qualitative study

Transition care programmes (TCP) provide older adults with goal-oriented rehabilitation after hospitalisation. However, limited research has focused on understanding older adults' experiences when undertaking TCP. Using a phenomenological approach, we explored the lived experience of older adul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ageing and society 2024-02, Vol.44 (2), p.475-490
Main Authors: Hang, Jo-Aine, Francis-Coad, Jacqueline, Ho, Portia, Waldron, Nicholas, Purslowe, Kate, Hill, Anne-Marie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adults
Decision making
Discharge
Emotional responses
Family support
Grief
Guardians
Hospital discharged
Hospitalization
Informed consent
Interviews
Medical personnel
Older people
Phenomenology
Professional ethics
Qualitative research
Rehabilitation
Relatives
Uncertainty
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Summary:Transition care programmes (TCP) provide older adults with goal-oriented rehabilitation after hospitalisation. However, limited research has focused on understanding older adults' experiences when undertaking TCP. Using a phenomenological approach, we explored the lived experience of older adults undertaking a TCP at a transition care facility in Australia. A purposive sample (N = 33 participants: 16 older adults, four family members and 13 staff) was recruited. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken at three time-points during admission and inductive thematic analysis was utilised. Older adults reflected on their TCP experiences through an emotional lens through which they deliberated, ‘is my destination home?’ Fear of losing independence and uncertainty about their discharge destination strongly influenced older adults' perspectives regarding their TCP experience. Emotional responses, both positive and negative, were influenced by expectations prior to admission, level of family support and staff behaviour. Staff and family concurred that many older adults were confused about their admission to the facility and initially were unprepared to engage in the rehabilitation provided. Older adults experienced TCP as a time of great uncertainty and feared the unknown when discharged from hospital to transition care. They expressed grief at the loss of existing life roles and anxiety about the possibility of being unable to return home. Health professionals need to inform and tailor rehabilitation for older adults to better support this transient time of life.
ISSN:0144-686X
1469-1779
DOI:10.1017/S0144686X22000253