COMPANION CARE ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCTION IN ADMISSIONS AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT USE AMONG OLDER ADULTS. (20th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McNamara, Kelsey; Rudy, Ellen; Armao, Anne; Towsley, Kerri; Lang, Samantha; Perissinotto, Carla
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 6(2022)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 812
• Page End: 813
• Publication Date: 2022-12-20
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igac059.2927
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Older adults with unmet social needs, including social isolation and loneliness, have higher rates of hospital readmission and emergency department (ED) use. Our objective was to determine if Papa Inc., a nationwide service that pairs older adults with "Papa Pals" for companionship and assistance, was associated with reductions in readmissions and ED visits. SummaCare, a Medicare Advantage Organization in Ohio, partnered with Papa to offer free companion care to their members. We explored changes in inpatient admission rates and ED high-utilizers (defined as members with 4+ ED visits in a calendar year) from 2018 through 2021 using a claims-based analysis. Analysis included members who used 30+ minutes of Papa services in 2021 and had historical claims data from 2019 (n=1, 420), matched 1:1 to a non-Papa comparison group (n=1, 420) using a validated risk scoring model. Overall, average age was 78, 62% were female, 2% were ED high-utilizers in 2021. Increased enrollment in Papa occurred post hospitalization. The case-mix adjusted 30-day readmission rate in 2021 was 12.6% for Papa users (compared to 14.1% for non-Papa; and 14.5% for Papa users before enrollment), revealing a 1.5% to 2% decline in readmission rate after enrollment in Papa. Using case-mix adjusted relativities, Papa members had 0.89 readmissions for every 1.00 readmission for non-Papa users. Compared to the matched cohort, the Papa cohort had 34% fewer ED high-utilizers during the intervention year. Results provide preliminary evidence that a social companionship service may reduce readmissions and frequent ED use, and can inform future trials on companion-based interventions.