Identifying Patient, Care Partner, and Clinician Needs for Functional Recovery Following Hospitalization When Dementia is Present.

The findings are qualitative experiences and needs, not tested effects of an intervention. Participants were from a VA system, so the findings may not represent other healthcare systems. Veterans were all white and non-Hispanic, and participants were described as less diverse and more educated than the typical dementia population in the VA. The interview guide was developed with rehabilitation clinician experts, not Veterans or care partners. Clinician participants were only occupational and physical therapists and assistants, so other disciplines and organizational roles were not represented. Clinician interviews were not recorded because of union stipulations, and all interviews used summative documentation rather than verbatim transcription, which may limit detail. One interviewer had prior clinical relationships with some participants, although another researcher usually conducted those interviews.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The article is tagged as supported by non-U.S. government and NIH extramural research funding.

Do not read these themes as evidence that home rehabilitation or collaborative discharge planning improves functional recovery. The study described experiences and needs, not tested outcomes.