The problems of elderly people at home one week after discharge from an acute care setting

The problems of elderly people following discharge from hospital is a worldwide focus of nursing attention. Actual and local insight into the nature worldwide focus of nursing attention. Actual and local insight into the nature and extent of post‐discharge problems is needed as a base for improving and evaluating discharge planning. Problems following discharge were investigated as the first part of a larger study. Over a 3‐month period, 251 elderly people who had been discharged after a hospital stay of more than 3 days. Were asked to participate in the study. Half received a postal questionnaire and half were interviewed at home, one week after discharge. There were 145 respondent. The need for information was mentioned by 80% of the patients. Housekeeping tasks also caused most patients some difficulty. Almost 40% of those discharged reported some kind of unmet need.