Discharge Disposition in Veterans With Heart Failure: Impact of Dementia and Severe Mental Illness

Post-acute heart failure (HF) care presents significant management challenges, particularly among veterans with cognitive and behavioral impairments due to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) or severe mental illness (SMI). We hypothesized that comorbid AD/ADRD and SMI would reduce the likelihood of discharge home following HF hospitalization. In addition, we explored how AD/ADRD and SMI influence discharge to Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Living Centers (CLCs) compared with Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs).