Care to the end: a retrospective observational study of aged care facility residents transferred to hospital in the last day of life

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While transfer of aged care facility (ACF) residents to an acute hospital is sometimes necessary, for those at end of life this can cause fragmented care and disruption. AIM: To explore the characteristics of ACF residents transferred to hospital in the last 24 h of life and factors that might influence this decision, including access to medical review, advance care planning (ACP) and pre-emptive symptom management prescribing, an area not previously researched. METHODS: A retrospective observational audit of ACF residents transferred to a metropolitan hospital between 2012 and 2017 who died within 24 h of transfer. RESULTS: A total of 149 patients met the criteria. The median ag..