Discharge planning for the elderly ambulatory surgical patient

Discharge planning for the elderly ambulatory surgery patient should begin as soon as the patient’s procedure is booked. Successful discharge planning relies on 1) comprehensive preoperative assessment; 2) effective communication among the surgical facility’s caregivers, the physician’s office, the patient, and the family; 3) consideration of the patient’s preoperative status; and 4) a strong patient and family education plan. The challenges of planning the aftercare are compounded by the physical, social, financial, cognitive, and sensory changes related to the normal aging process as well as to systemic diseases, which are more prevalent in the older population than in younger patients. The elderly patient’s discharge plan should identify and address age-related barriers to communication, incorporate the patient’s existing physical and medical condition, diminish the negative effects of social support challenges, and address environmental issues that can be improved to support recovery. The elderly population often deals with the imperfect: isolation from family or friends, aging bodies, hearing and visual loss, financial limitations, and emotional challenges. Although the nurse cannot reverse these challenges of old age, he or she can still make a difference by providing guidance and resources to blunt the potential complications of surgery and anesthesia.