Older people’s experience of Hospital Discharge Link Workers
The research practice partnerships have produced short evidence briefings in response to questions raised by partner agencies
Older people’s experience of Hospital Discharge Link Workers
Key messages:
- There is currently insufficient evidence to draw reliable conclusions about the impact of link workers on hospital discharge. One small study suggests that:
- Link workers can facilitate improved communication between services, particularly between GPs and hospital staff
- They can improve the experience of hospital discharge by attending to the preferences of older people and providing a ‘familiar face’ throughout the process
- They can help to improve the wellbeing of older people following discharge by (re)connecting them with their local community and relevant services.
Reflective questions:
- Have you had experience of hospital discharge for an older person and what were the factors that were important to them and their family?
- Have you had experience of a hospital link worker and did it impact the experience of discharge for the person?
