Going home better not worse: Older adults' views on physical function during hospitalization

Abstract

Functional decline is a common complication for hospitalized older adults. Illuminating the factors that influence the physical function of hospitalized older adults is critical in order to develop effective interventions to prevent avoidable loss of function. Twenty-four older adults in three senior centres located in metropolitan New York City, who had recent experience with hospitalization, participated in focus groups to discover these factors. An exploratory qualitative design was used. Participants defined physical function as the ability to be mobile and resume the enactment of their roles, routines and relationships. Participants also believed that hospitalization should improve physical function. They described staff and system supports of, as well as the challenges to physical function in the hospital setting. The findings provide evidence for developing education programmes as well as new models of nursing care aimed at preventing functional decline.

The hospital environment for end of life care of older adults and their families: an integrative review

“…Single rooms need large windows and glazed doors for sustained patient observation and reduced risk of accidents. Hospitalized older people refer to a number of physical features when describing an ‘enabling environment’ including access to hand rails and grab‐bars (Boltz et al. 2010).…”

“…Given this context, hospitals need to provide an appropriate environment for older adults requiring end of life care (Gardiner & Barnes 2011). This is especially important as, internationally, concerns exist about hospital environments for this group (Boltz et al. 2010).…”

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Hospitalized Older Patients with Distinct Risk Profiles for Functional Decline: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Preventing functional decline during and after hospitalization is therefore an increasingly important health-care focus in older hospital patients [6], [7]. Not all patients are at equal risk of developing functional decline because decline is dependent on (among other factors) patients' premorbid status, including geriatric conditions present at admission [1], [8].…”

Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders – a model for optimising the geriatric nursing practice environment

“…delirium, functional decline, pressure ulcers) and adverse events (e.g. fall‐related injuries) during hospitalisation (Boltz et al. 2010a,b,c,d,e,f, Kim et al.…”