El Zeinaty, Eliot With.Me Guide: A Participatory Design Approach to Supporting Self-Management for Seniors After Emergency Discharge. Project Report. OCAD University Open Research Repository.

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Abstract

Older adults discharged from the emergency department (ED) often return home feeling overwhelmed. They leave with new medications, follow-up instructions, and care responsibilities that may be difficult to manage, particularly when they are living with
multiple chronic conditions, taking several medications, or have limited support at home. These challenges can be further intensified for older adults whose first language is not English or who have trouble understanding health information and navigating the Canadian health system.

This project examined how ED discharge communication might better support older adults and their caregivers during the transition from emergency care to home, with a particular focus on medication understanding, readiness and self-management after
discharge. In Phase 1, the study used a qualitative and human-centered design approach, including semi-structured interviews with caregivers and healthcare providers, in addition to ED learning and observation, to explore and understand discharge communication, workflow dynamics, and opportunities for design intervention. Data were audio recorded and analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns across stakeholder perspectives.
The findings revealed six interconnected challenges shaping the ED to home transition: cognitive and emotional overload, post-discharge medication management difficulties, 4 communication and information barriers, reliance on caregivers, gaps in continuity of care, and safety concerns linked to isolation and poor self-advocacy. Together, these findings suggest that current ED-to home transitions are burdensome, fragmented, and not adequately designed for the realities of older adults' lives after leaving the ED.

As a result, the project proposed the With.Me discharge guide as a patient-centered transition tool informed by an emerging design framework. The guide was developed through five key domains: understanding the health concern, managing medicines at home, feeling reassured at home, continuity of care, and readiness for home recovery, while also drawing on the 4Ms to support age-friendly care. Together, these elements were used to strengthen communication at discharge, support patient safety, and
improve continuity during a critical transition from emergency care to home. This framework informed the development of the discharge guide and may also serve as a foundation for future refinement, pilot testing, and evaluation.

Item Type:	Report/Working Paper (Project Report)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	emergency discharge, older adults, aging at home, self-management, discharge communication, care transition, human-centered design, participatory design, medication management, patient-centered care, age-friendly care, caregivers, continuity of care
Divisions:	Graduate Studies > Design for Health
Date Deposited:	29 May 2026 18:13
Last Modified:	29 May 2026 18:15
URI:	https://openresearch.ocadu.ca/id/eprint/5161

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