Recuperative Care: an example of partnership care which works for patients

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the role of Recuperative Care after hospital

discharge.

Design/methodology/approach – Acombined qualitative and quantitative study. The quantitative

study was a concurrent, parallel, geographically controlled trial of Recuperative Care versus standard

NHShospital rehabilitation. Recuperative Care is rehabilitation in a residential care home with no on-site

medical or nursing staff. A daily programme of exercises and activities to improve independence is

provided by two in-house occupational therapists. The primary outcome measures were discharge

destination, domicile 3 and 12 months post-discharge and mortality. A purposefully selected sample of

20 recuperative care patients was interviewed after discharge.

Findings – There was a small difference of borderline significance in initial discharge destination

(slightly more patients were discharged home from recuperative care than from Hospital). However, at

3 months and 12 months there was no significant difference between the groups. A logistic regression

analysis suggested the main determinant of outcome was cognitive function. There was no significant

difference in mortality between the groups. The qualitative data demonstrated Recuperative Care to be

a highly-rated, positive and sometimes life-changing experience for patients. The interview data

illustrate the aspects of care and characteristics which were beneficial.

Practical implications – Recuperative care is a model of partnership working which has potential

to free-up hospital beds while benefitting patients.

Originality/value – The presentation of the qualitative data aims to highlight those aspects of

Recuperative Care which seemed beneficial from a clinical perspective.