Effects of Caregiver’s Gender or Distance Between Caregiver and Patient’s Home on Home Discharge from Hospital in 285 Patients Aged ≥75 Years in Japan

BACKGROUND: Many hospitalized aged patients in Japan, the most super-aged society, are unable to be discharged home. This study was performed to clarify the factors associated with home discharge, not to a long-term care (LTC) facility or another hospital, among inpatients aged ≥75 years. MATERIAL/METHODS: A single-center prospective cohort study was performed for inpatients aged ≥75 years in a rural acute-care hospital in Japan, from November 2017 to October 2019. We divided the patients into 2 groups: those who resided at home or had died at home by 30 days after discharge, and others. We obtained data from medical charts and questionnaires given to patients and their caregivers. For each factor shown to be statistically significant by the univariable analysis, a multivariable analysis with adjustment was conducted. RESULTS: In all, 285 patients agreed to participate. With adjustment by where the patient was admitted from, residing with other family members, cognitive function scores, and Barthel index, multivariable analysis using each factor identified as relevant by univariable analysis identified the following as associated with home discharge: being less informed about LTC insurance; cost of home-visit medical, nursing, or LTC services; shorter hospital stays; close proximity between patient and caregiver; main caregiver being female; and life expectancy of over 6 months (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Male gender and a long distance between the caregiver and patient’s home significantly hindered home discharge in patients aged ≥75 years, suggesting the need to provide information regarding home-visit services under Japan’s LTC insurance system for such caregivers.