Characteristics Associated With Home Health Care Referral After Discharge From Hospital

Most older adults prefer to recover at home, making home health care (HHC) an important alternative to institutional post-acute care (eg, skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation). Understanding factors associated with HHC referral at hospital discharge—relative to other options—can align care with patient preferences and support aging in place. This study examined individual, hospital, and community characteristics associated with HHC referral vs institutional post-acute care among Medicare beneficiaries.