Hospital transfers from residential aged care at the end-of-life and the role of advanced care planning

Funding for $46,760
Lay summary: Aged care residents at the end‐of‐life, due to complex care needs, are at high risk of unnecessary hospital transfer if their care needs are not met in their place of care. This nursing led translational research project aims to determine the reasons aged care residents are transferred to hospital at the end-of-life and the role of advanced care planning (ACP) in preventing unnecessary hospital transfers. By understanding the reasons for hospital transfer, high-quality nursing led strategies can be recommended and implemented with the aim of preventing or reducing unnecessary hospital transfers for residents of aged care facilities in Australia. Studies suggest that ACP can have a significant role in preventing unwanted hospital transfer at the end-of-life, however, little is known of the actual role that ACP has in the decision to transfer a resident to hospital.

This study involves a mixed methods three phase approach. Phase 1: a retrospective audit of resident charts in two regions in New South Wales to ascertain data on hospital transfers during a retrospective 12-month period. Phase 2: focus group interviews with staff, residents and families from four residential aged care facilities (RACFs) across these two regions will occur, to understand experiences and perceptions of resident’s transfer to hospital, the barriers to keeping residents at the facility and the role ACP has in the decision to transfer a resident to hospital at the end-of-life. Phase 3 will provide actionable recommendations to reduce hospital transfers of aged care residents at the end-of-life.