Concept analysis of transitional care of the elderly in Japan

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the concept of transitional care (TC) for the elderly using literature analysis in Japan. For literature search, PubMed, the Web version of the Igaku Chuo Zasshi (ICHUSHI), Medical Online, and CiNii Research were used, and hand searching was performed. Two books suitable for the research purpose were added, and 20 documents were analyzed using Rodgers’s concept analysis. As a result, “team care for multidisciplinary collaboration”, “consistent care in various medical treatment settings”, “utilization of the power of the elderly and their families”, “comprehensive and integrated care”, “care for changes in the medical condition of the elderly”, and “support for decision-making of the elderly and their families” were extracted. In addition, three antecedents, “Systems that must change the place of life”, “Functions of the place of life at the destination”, “Category of TC” were extracted. And four consequences “Continuing living in the place of life”, “TC PDCA cycle”, “Reducing the burden of long-term care”, “Realizing the intentions of the elderly and their families” were identified. These findings suggest that the concept of transitional care for the elderly reflects the characteristics of various pathological changes in them and includes elements of comprehensive and integrated care through a multidisciplinary collaboration.