Respite admissions and the disabled elderly.

A retrospective descriptive study of the elderly patients served by a respite admission program in a teaching hospital is described. Data were collected by health record review and interviews with the program social worker. In the three years covered by the study there were 28 patients, with a mean age of 80.5 years. Fifty-seven per cent were male, 68 per cent, married, 29 per cent, widowed, and 3 per cent, single. When first admitted they were all living in their own homes or the home of a child. Seventy-nine per cent of the patients had moderate or severe dementia, with or without physical disability. Family members were the main caregivers and home care services provided support in 54 per cent of cases. Ninety-three per cent of the patients attended the geriatric day hospital. The patients received respite admissions for a mean of 10.8 months. At the end of the study more than a third of the patients were still living at home and half had entered long-term care facilities. By means of respite admissions supplemented by day hospital attendance it has been possible to maintain in the community disabled elderly patients who might otherwise have required immediate institutionalization. The need for more respite care and in-home services is discussed and a role for long-term care facilities as major providers of respite care suggested.