Determining discharge destination in geriatric evaluation and management units: Is progressive goal attainment a better early indicator of discharge destination than improvement in functional independence measure scores?

AIM: To determine whether progress in goal attainment is a more responsive measure of functional improvement than the Functional Independence Measure, and whether it is a more accurate predictor of discharge destination in the early phase of a Geriatric Evaluation and Management episode. METHODS: The present study was a prospective audit of goal achievement, functional ability and discharge destination. A total of 83 patients were included in this study. Logistic regression was carried out with the outcome variable discharge destination (home vs residential care), and the predictors being goal attainment, age at admission and change in the Functional Independence Measure motor function scale from admission to 2 weeks. RESULTS: Of the predictors, goal attainment was the only significant predictor. The overall amount of variability in the discharge destination explained by the predictors was 25% (Nagelkerke pseudo R2 ). CONCLUSIONS: Progressive goal attainment might be a better predictor of improvement in function and discharge destination than change in the Functional Independence Measure. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1058-1063.