The following was published in the May 2009 Senior Independence Update by Home Safety Services, and it highlights the importance of a specific transition plan after discharge from a hospital.
Re-hospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries are prevalent and costly. This was the conclusion made by Jencks et al., in their recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine that examined 15 months of Medicare claims data to describe patterns of re-hospitalization among 12 million Medicare beneficiaries. Two-thirds were re-hospitalized or died within a year of discharge; 90% of re-hospitalizations were unplanned; and half of those re-hospitalized within 30 days had no evidence of having seen a doctor between hospital encounters. The cost of unplanned re-hospitalizations in 2004 was estimated to be $17.4 billion dollars. According to the study's authors, "a safe transition...requires care that centers on the patient and transcends organizational boundaries". Providers are thus encouraged to partner with other disciplines (e.g. home health, physical therapy, homecare, home safety, etc.) so as to ensure a continuum of care.
More information on safety in your home and Aging in Place can be found at the Home Safety Services link available on this site's opening page.
Take care and be safe at home!!
Tom Binder
Seniors Real Estate Specialist
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