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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Florence Weierbach, MPH, RN BC, University of Virginia, 10054 Wycliff Road, Richmond, VA 23236, 804-674-4814, fmw2d@virginia.edu

As Americans age it is important to understand what happens to elders who return to their community homes. The focus of this discussion includes a literature review focusing on community resources available to elders after hospital discharge. A literature review was conducted using CINAHL, Medline and Pub Med initially from 1995-present, the review was expanded to include literature from 1980 to present. Keywords for the search include; elderly, community resources, home health and discharge planning. The findings focus on processes related to hospital discharge and Medicare Home Health. With the exception of Medicare Home Health services, there is not a clear understanding of what is available for elders with ADL and IADL needs in the community setting. The literature supports lack of knowledge concerning elders ADL/IADL needs after a hospitalization. While rural was not an initial keyword, the review of the literature allows one to identify elders in the community as living in a rural or non rural community

Learning Objectives:

• Identify research that focuses on needs of community dwelling elders in rural areas.
• Describe hospital discharge processes that assist a smooth transition from the hospital to the elders home.

Keywords: Community-Based Care, Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered