Introduction: Older people admitted to hospital are at risk of decreased ability to perform ADL, lower quality of life and dependency after discharge. There is also a higher risk for readmission to hospital shortly after discharge. To be old and repeatedly seeking acute care is also more than a medical problem. Their repeated contacts with the healthcare system may be due to a dependency on others that may affect daily occupations at home. The specific needs of this group of older people have been poorly described from these older persons perspective.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe barriers and opportunities in daily occupations for older people repeatedly readmitted to hospital and now discharged to home.
Methods: Sixteen participants (≥75 years) readmitted to hospital for the third time within a 12 -month period were interviewed in their homes after discharge from an acute medical ward about two weeks after their latest hospital stay. A qualitative content analysis was used for analysis.
Results: An overarching theme was found, trying to manage an unpredictable everyday life. Three categories and seven subcategories were identified, which represented barriers and opportunities for their daily occupations. The categories were Dealing with an unstable day, Dealing with social relations and Dealing with the health care system. These categories were important for maintaining daily occupations for most of the participants.
Conclusion: To the extent the older person had the opportunity to perform daily occupations, this was seen as important and contributed to maintain abilities. Close contact with relatives was essential to the performance of daily occupations at home, and for the old person without contact with relatives this was a barrier to occupation and increased their vulnerability. Therefore, occupational interventions and appropriate support are required in acute care and these must be communicated at discharge. Interventions and timed support are of particular importance for those who do not have close social relations at home.