Understanding the role of informal caregivers in postoperative care transitions for older patients

Background Older adults may have new care needs and functional limitations after surgery. Many rely on informal caregivers (unpaid family or friends) after discharge but the extent of informal support is unknown. We sought to examine the role of informal postoperative caregiving on transitions of care for older adults undergoing routine surgical procedures. Materials and methods We performed a retrospective cohort study using ACS NSQIP Geriatric Pilot Project data, 2014-2018. Patients were ≥65 years and underwent an inpatient surgical procedure. Patients who lived at home alone were compared with those who lived with support from informal caregivers (family and/or friends). Primary outcomes were discharge destination (home vs. post-acute care) and readmission within 30 days. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between support at home, discharge destination, and readmission. Results Of 18,494 patients, 25% lived alone before surgery. There was no difference in loss of independence (decline in functional status or new use of mobility aid) after surgery between patients who lived alone or with others (18.7% vs. 19.5%, p = 0.24). Nevertheless, twice as many patients who lived alone were discharged to a non-home location (10.2% vs. 5.1%; OR: 2.24, CI: 1.93-2.56). Patients who lived alone and were discharged home with new informal caregivers had increased odds of readmission (OR: 1.43, CI: 1.09-1.86). Conclusion Living alone independently predicts discharge to post-acute care, and patients who received new informal caregiver support at home have higher odds of readmission. These findings highlight opportunities to improve discharge planning and care.