Citation

Resnick B, Boltz M. Clin. Geriatr. Med. 2019; 35(2): 237-251.

Affiliation

Pennsylvania State University, College of Nursing, 201 Nursing Sciences Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.cger.2019.01.003

PMID

30929885

Abstract

Physical activity, defined as bodily movement that expends energy including such things as bed mobility, transfers, bathing, dressing, and walking, has a positive impact on physical and psychosocial outcomes among older adults during their hospitalization and the post hospitalization recovery period. Despite benefits, physical activity is not the focus of care in the acute care setting. Further there are many barriers to engaging patients in physical activity and fall prevention activities including patient, family and provider beliefs, environmental challenges and limitations, hospital policies, and medical and nursing interventions. This paper provides an overview of falls and physical activity prevalence among acute care patients, challenges to engaging patients in physical activity and falls prevention activities and innovative approaches to increase physical activity and prevent falls among older hospitalized patients.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Falls; Functional decline; Hospitalized older adults; Optimizing function; Optimizing physical activity