Mortality and Rehospitalization Risk Assessment by Skilled Caregivers Compared to Existing Tools in Acute Geriatric Departments

Mortality and Rehospitalization Risk Assessment by Skilled Caregivers Compared to Existing Tools in Acute Geriatric Departments Background The elderly population in Israel and worldwide is steadily increasing, leading to greater demand for medical services, including palliative care. In 2019, individuals aged 65+ accounted for 64% of hospital admissions and 70% of hospital days in Israel. Approximately 19% of these were readmissions, a rate that increases with age. Effective tools for identifying patients at high risk of rehospitalization and mortality are lacking, which, if improved, could benefit patients through targeted palliative and end-of-life care. Enhanced tools could reduce unnecessary interventions, improve patient well-being, and alleviate economic burdens on healthcare. Research Objectives 1. Evaluate mortality and rehospitalization rates in acute geriatric departments. 2. Identify risk factors for rehospitalization and mortality in acutely hospitalized elderly patients. 3. Compare the effectiveness of skilled caregiver assessments versus validated prediction tools for mortality and rehospitalization within one year. Hypotheses 1. Mortality and rehospitalization rates in acute geriatric departments are comparable to those in internal medicine. 2. Multiple factors-such as age, family support, comorbidities, functional and cognitive status-correlate with mortality risk. 3. Skilled caregiver assessments predict mortality and rehospitalization more accurately than existing validated tools. Study Design Type: Prospective cohort observational study. Location: Shmuel Harofe Hospital. Study Population Participants are elderly patients admitted to acute geriatric departments at Shmuel Harofe Hospital for acute conditions. Approximately 600 participants will be recruited, with an additional 200-300 if statistical analysis reveals trends. Recruitment Period: Two years. Follow-up Period: Up to one year post-admission. Methods and Materials Data will be co