Minimizing adverse effects on XXXX of involuntary relocation from long-stay wards to community residences.

@entity1 @entity130 @entity146
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the incidence of, and variables associated with, relocation @entity130 among 85 @entity1 who moved from long-stay @entity146 wards to community care units as part of a hospital closure in Melbourne, Australia. METHODS: Some @entity1 moved directly from wards and some moved first to transitional units on the hospital grounds. Preparation for the transition, such as visits to the community care unit before the move, was documented, and severity of symptoms, @entity146 , and preferences for living environments one month before and one month after the move were compared. Relocation @entity130 was measured one month after the move. After significant factors associated with @entity130 were determined, additional tests further discriminated these factors. RESULTS: Although 66 percent of @entity1 were happy with community care units one month after the move, 18 percent preferred hospital living. Of 81 @entity1 who had data on relocation @entity130 , 20, or 25 percent, met relocation @entity130 criteria. Preparation in a transitional unit reduced the likelihood of @entity130 , as did making six or more premove visits to the new facility and having a preparation period of more than 16 weeks. When preparation in a transitional unit, number of premove visits, and duration of preparation were considered together, only the number of premove visits and duration of preparation remained significantly associated with relocation @entity130 . CONCLUSIONS: Adverse effects of relocation on long-stay @entity146 @entity1 may be minimized by the preparation of @entity1 over a period of four months or more, with inclusion of six or more visits to the new facility. Moving via a transitional environment is not essential.
