Close relatives’ perspectives of everyday activities at home for older adults repeatedly readmitted to hospital: A qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: Relatives are important when older adults return home after a hospital stay. The aim of this study was to describe close relatives’ perspectives of the everyday activities of older adults who are repeatedly readmitted to hospital and discharged to home. Methods: A semi-structured interview was performed to collect data from twenty relatives (aged 45–82 years). Data were analysed using a deductive qualitative content analysis based on the results of a previous study within this field. Results: The overall theme ‘In need of support to manage an unpredictable everyday life’ shows that the older adults often needed support in everyday activities. In the two categories ‘Difficulties in dealing with an unstable day’ and ‘Managing an unstable day’ and the 10 subcategories, close relatives described that the older adults needed support in various ways from relatives or other individuals. Close contact was important for how everyday activities worked at home and in maintaining social contacts and contact with healthcare. Conclusion: It was found that social needs, such as social contacts/activities, are just as important to assess at discharge as medical and functional needs.