[Rehabilitation needs of geriatric patients in subacute inpatient care after acute inpatient hospitalization-a neglected claim].

Background: Geriatric patients after hospitalization often utilize subacute inpatient care (SC); however, little is known about their care and further health status.

Objective: To identify persons in SC with rehabilitation needs and improvement potential after hospitalization and to describe the care, relevant parameters of the health status as well as use of medical/nursing services in and after SC.

Methods: After positive screening for previous hospitalization and need of rehabilitation with improvement potential in 13 nursing homes, the length of stay, therapeutic treatments and physician contacts in SC as well as functional parameters, pain, quality of life and the utilization of services according to the Social Security Code V (SGB V) and SGB XI were assessed at baseline, at the end and 3 months after SC.

Results: A total of 108 (44%) out of 243 screened persons with previous hospitalization had a need of rehabilitation with improvement potential, of whom 57 participated in the study. In SC (median = 26 days) 35% received no therapeutic treatments and 28% had no physician contact. After SC 40% were transferred to rehabilitation. Participants with rehabilitation transition more frequently received therapeutic treatments in SC (p = 0.021) and were less frequently in long-term care 3 months after SC (p = 0.015).

Conclusion: This study suggests that a high proportion of persons in SC after hospitalization are in need of rehabilitation with improvement potential, which is not sufficiently treated. Regular therapeutic treatments in SC could improve the transition rate to rehabilitation and subsequent home environment.