Listening to older patients.

This article presents findings from focus-group research conducted by Age Wave, Inc., a marketing services, research and consulting firm focusing on the 50+ market. The research is part of a comprehensive study on the aging-readiness of acute-care hospitals, sponsored by Baxter Healthcare Corporation. The findings discussed here are based on focus groups conducted in April 1993 with recently discharged 50+ patients in 10 major metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas throughout the country. While findings from focus groups should be considered directional rather than absolute, the views of an expert panel confirm many of the observations and experiences of these older hospital patients.