Emergency department discharge experiences of Hispanic older adults with dementia

Abstract INTRODUCTION Patients with dementia and their care partners commonly experience poor communication and fragmented care transitions after emergency care. With these challenges likely amplified in non–English‐speaking populations, this study aimed to examine the emergency department (ED) discharge experiences of Hispanic patients with cognitive impairment. METHODS We conducted recorded, semi‐structured interviews of 10 dyads (patient and an identified care partner) 1 week after ED discharge. Team members coded professional transcriptions in accordance with the National Quality Forum Emergency Department (NQF ED) Care Transitions Framework and identified themes. RESULTS Three priority themes emerged among the Hispanic population: (1) Enhancing communication and discharge processes, (2) trust deficits impacting their readiness and safety, and (3) families as primary care coordinators navigating systemic inefficiencies. DISCUSSION Findings highlight the importance of culturally tailored discharge processes, shared decision‐making, and strategies addressing language barriers to improve ED care transitions for Hispanic patients with dementia.