Predictors of discharge destination for 234 patients admitted to a combined geriatric medicine/old age psychiatry unit.

Objective: To examine the factors that predicted discharge destinations of all patients admitted to a combined geriatric medicine/old age psychiatry unit over a 4-year period.

Method: Data regarding discharge destinations, active medical problems and demographics of 234 patients admitted to the unit were analysed using non-parametric bivariate correlation and logistic regression analysis.

Results: Independence for activities of daily living (ADL) was the key predictor of discharge destination.