TRANSITIONAL CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS - AN INTEGRATED REVIEW

The increasing trend in the older adult population is proportionate to the burden of chronic illness among them, necessitating the need to move between varied care settings to relieve their pronounced discomforts. Literature reports a high incidence of potentially inappropriate medication, preventable complications, and caregiver burden during this phase. Transitional care plays a vital role in ensuring health care continuity, avoiding preventable poor outcomes among at-risk populations, and promoting the safe and timely transfer of patients from one level of care to another or from one type of setting to another. This review explores and crystallizes empirical literature on transitional care for older adults with an aim to comprehensively articulate its significance, components, interventions, and outcomes. The importance of coordinated and empowered transition between varied care settings is illuminated in this review. The components of transitional care from global evidence string together the staffing and competency requirements. The vastness of interventions employed within transitional care models provides the scope for practitioners to select feasible and affordable interventions within their practice settings. A glimpse into the outcomes of transitional care directs health and social care personnel to weigh outcomes greater than establishment investments.