<p>Over the past two decades, European health systems have reformed and decentralised to address dual demographic pressures – an ageing population with complex care needs and a shrinking workforce. In this context, intermediate care has become vital for supporting older patients’ transitions from hospital to home, yet remains characterised by considerable local variation. The aim of this study is to provide a novel descriptive overview of intermediate care organisation and divergence in patients’ care paths in a purposefully heterogeneous sample of 14 out of 98 municipalities’ Temporary Stays in Denmark, an underexplored yet integral component of intermediate care. Reflecting the decentralised nature of the Danish health system, the study juxtaposes descriptive clinical outcomes in care transitions with general organisational features of Temporary Stays across local contexts. We utilised descriptive statistics of patient characteristics and outcomes, combined with statistical analyses of differences across municipalities in the transitions of 11,284 patients across the 14 Temporary Stays. We used data from the Danish administrative and health registries and collated the results of the statistical analysis, alongside consultations with Temporary Stay leaders, to contextualise observed divergence in patient trajectories and care organisation. The study forms part of a broader mixed-methods assessment of Temporary Stays. The findings demonstrate substantial differences in both organisational arrangements and patient outcomes, including readmissions, mortality, and length of stay. Service fragmentation, the absence of a specified political strategy, and flexible but non-consistent organisational structures suggest that intermediate care is shaped by decentralisation, potentially contributing to differences in quality and access.</p>