Elderly subjects hospitalised in acute care medical unit: baseline date and on-year follow-up

Abstract

To describe the elderly population hospitalized in a service of short-term care, and to follow during one year its evolution in term of dependence and of rehospitalisation. Inclusion of all the patients of more than 75 years hospitalized in the service during 5 weeks, with initial geriatric evaluation, and phone evaluation in 6 months and one year. Seventy-four patients were included, among which 57 were living at home. The mean length of stay was 11 days. In one year, 22 patients died, 23 went in institution and 29 are always in the place of residence, among which 18 with a rise of the helps. 53% of patients were rehospitalized at least once. This work allows a description, social and functional, of the patients older than 75 years, hospitalized in the service. It confirms the risk of loss of autonomy and of unplanned readmission, in the short and medium term, that a geriatric program could limit.