Need analysis for geriatric care services in a tertiary care teaching hospital: a patient perspective analysis

Abstract

Background: In India, aging population is increasing every year. So, healthcare industry needs to set up a geriatric unit soon. Development of geriatrics and old-age care systems in India will make elderly people independent and improve their lifestyle, life expectancy, and quality of life while decreasing the cost of care. This study looks at the views of patients who are 60 years or older, as well as need for a full-fledged geriatric unit in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This study used questionnaires to get information from patients about the need for a geriatric care service in the chosen tertiary care teaching hospital. The study was conducted between March 2022 to July 2022 Results: Over 96% of the patients opined that elderly patients require a separate health care setup from the regular health care system. The study showed that 69.9% of the patient respondents opined that they require an attendant each time they visit a hospital. Also, 51.6% of the patients did not go to their doctor's appointments because they needed someone to accompany them to the hospital. Conclusions: A study shows that older people rely on family members to check out healthcare facilities. If a new geriatric unit has the latest facilities, 96.8% of the patients will take advantage of them. Hence, a well-established geriatric department in the selected hospital is the need of the hour.