Examining the Role of Third Sector Organization Volunteers in Facilitating Hospital-to-Home Transitions for Older Adults – a Collective Case Study

Introduction: With increasing attention to models of transitional support delivered through multisectoral approaches, third-sector organizations (TSOs) have supported community reintegration and independent living post-hospitalization. This study aimed to identify the core elements of these types of programs, the facilitators, and barriers to service implementation and to understand the perspectives of providers and recipients of their experiences with the programs.

Methods and Analysis: A collective case study collected data from two UK-based ‘Home from Hospital’ programs. An inductive thematic analysis generated rich descriptions of each program, and analytical activities generated insights across the cases.

Results: Programs provided a range of personalized support for older adults and addressed many post-discharge needs, including well-being assessments, support for instrumental activities of daily living, psychosocial support, and other individualized services directed by the needs and preferences of the service user. Results suggest that these programs can act as a ‘safety net’ and promote independent living. Skilled volunteers can positively impact older adults’ experience returning home.

Conclusions: When the programs under study are considered in tandem with existing evidence, it facilitates a discussion of how TSO services could be made available more widely to support older adults in their transition experiences.