Older adults' use of postacute and cardiac rehabilitation services after hospitalization for a cardiac event.

The purpose of this study was to describe older patients' use of postacute care (PAC) and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) services after a cardiac event and to describe the differences between older adults who use these services and those who do not. Under a longitudinal descriptive design, data were collected during hospitalization for a cardiac event, 3 and 6 weeks later, and 4 and 6 months later Of the 60 older adults in the sample, 73% used PAC after discharge. Older adults discharged home without PAC services had fewer complications and were less depressed than those who used PAC. Older adults discharged to a skilled nursing facility had poorer physical function both before the cardiac event and during hospitalization. Twenty-five percent participated in outpatient CR. Older adults who went to CR were male, had better physical function, and did not live alone. Understanding the use of PAC and CR services will help with discharge planning and customizing PAC and CR services for older adults to optimize cardiac recovery. The integration of CR principles into PAC may be an opportunity to enhance recovery for older adults, especially because only a small percentage of older adults attend CR.