J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2021 Sep;32(3):382-395. 10.12799/jkachn.2021.32.3.382.

Transition Experiences of the Elderly from Long-Term Care Hospital to Home: Focusing on the Elderly Living Alone of Community Care Project

• Hwang YH
• Lee GE

• KMID: 2526270
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2021.32.3.382

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the transition experiences of the elderly from long-term care hospitals to their homes.
Methods
The participants were eight elderly medicaid beneficiaries, who had been the subjects from the community care project in Korea. The data were collected with one-on-one interviews from April to November in 2020, and analyzed by phenomenological steps.
Results
The seven themes derived in this study were ‘Space to escape’, ‘Reliable supporter opened the way to discharge’, ‘Comfortable life at home’,‘Obstacles to independent life’, ‘Struggling to live alone’, ‘Fence for community life’, and ‘Energizing in daily life’
Conclusion
The results revealed the positive aspects of Community Care program in Korea. However, it is suggested that active communication between hospitals and community care institutions, and improvement of home environment to live in the community before discharge should be required. And system revision is needed to adjust activity in their home and support health problems of the elderly in the early stage of discharge. The results of this study can be referred to as the foundation of transitional care for the elderly.

Keyword

Aged; Patient discharge; Transitional care; Qualitative research