Abstract
The objective of this research is to examine clinical (e.g., older adult’s physical wellbeing) and system-level (e.g., use of community-based services) outcomes related to older adults’ transition from RLTC back to the community. This study is a longitudinal design and uses data from the RAI MDS 2.0 from a cohort of older adults residing in RLTC in one health region in British Columbia, Canada.
The purpose of this presentation is to report findings on the application of an algorithm designed to identify older RLTC residents who might be candidates for a transition back to the community. The algorithm was evaluated on a cohort of older adults who had been discharged from RLTC (N=3,859) between the years 2010 and 2014. A small percentage of these residents (n = 102) had been transitioned back to the community, whereas non-transitioning residents (n = 3,757) either moved to another RLTC or died. Statistically significant differences were observed across several variables; compared to non-transitioners, transitioners were younger, had been in RLTC for shorter durations, and were more likely to express a preference to return to the community and to have a support person who was positive about the transition. An ROC analysis of the algorithm disclosed a significant area under the curve (c = .767, p < .001).
These findings suggest that a small portion of older adults could transition back to the community. This has important implications for the development of policies that ensure appropriate and accessible health services in the community.