The search for early indicators of social service need among elderly hospital patients.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A study was made of the possible usefulness of certain sociodemo‐graphic characteristics as early indicators of the need for referral of elderly hospital patients to Social Service. The study population covered the 5,312 elderly patients accommodated in the private, semiprivate and teaching wards of the hospital's medical and surgical services during the year 1967. Of these patients, 520 were referred to Social Service. The data on 6 items (age, sex, marital status, religion, color, and medical service location) routinely recorded on each admission sheet were collected to determine whether they would prove predictive of the need for referral to Social Service; if so, they would constitute an inexpensive automated screening device for this purpose. At present, most elderly patients who need the services of social workers are referred only late in the course of hospitalization. Incidental to the original plan of study was the collection of data on the length of hospital stay. The 6 “admission” variables were found to be of no value as early predictors, but the ancillary variable (length of stay) proved to be importantly related to the overall need for Social Service. However, since the data on this variable can be obtained only at the time of discharge, they cannot be used as a screening device for early identification of the need. Further studies may reveal a means of early prediction of the length of hospital stay.