Maintaining Functional Capacity
During and Following Hospitalization
to Improve Mobility
Kristine M. Todd DNP, FNP-BC, RN-BC
Steve E. Brodnicki MS, PT, GCS, CBIS
Objectives
• Describe the physical changes associated with aging that
affect mobility and balance
• Describe key concepts of a physical design of a hospital
to maintain functional capacity
• State rehabilitation measures implemented to maintain or
improve balance, mobility, and function
• Define recommendations of future level of care at
discharge to prevent further decline in balance, mobility
and function
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Holistic Approach
Senior adults are unique and their
well-being comprises physical,
psychological, intellectual, social,
cultural, spiritual, emotional and
sexual dimensions.
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Hazards of Hospitalization
• Bed rest leads to loss of strength and reduction
• Sensory devices (glasses, hearing aids) are taken
• Food presented when you are not hungry or available
• Bathroom is certainly different from home
• Bed rest leads to loss of strength and reduction and
breathing capacity
• Less sleep
• Overstimulation due to noises (alarms, lights, etc.)
• Dehydration due to lack of access to water
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Hazards of Hospitalization
• 15% of hospitalized patients aged 70 and older will
experience a decline in their ability to perform basic selfcare activities
• 20% of hospitalized patients will discharged without
getting back to their baseline pre-admission
• 15% will be discharged to a nursing home
• Only about 12% of patients who go to a nursing home
return to home
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Physical Changes Associated With Aging
• Visual changes
– Decreased visual field and peripheral vision
– Greater increase of glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration
– Distorted depth perception
– Decreased vision in low light
– Eyes adjust to changing light levels with greater difficulty and more slowly
– Lenses may yellow with age
– Color vision may decrease
– Ability to contrast surfaces is decreased
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Physical Changes Associated With Aging
•Hearing changes
–Decreased hearing ability
–Greater sensitivity to high frequency noises
–Poor ability to distinguish different pitch levels
–Background noise causes problems
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Physical Changes Associated With Aging
• Cognitive Changes
–Ability to reason and think in the abstract is reduced
–Ability to focus on pertinent details is reduced
–Ability to form new associations is impaired
–Memory decreases
–Information process is slowed
–Difficulty with orientation, time and place
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Physical Changes Associated With Aging
• Skeletal/Muscle Changes
–Reduced muscle strength
• Grip strength
• Ability to reach
–Reduced flexibility
–Reduced coordination with fine motor skills
–Decreased balance with loss of equilibrium
–Reduced reaction time and reflexes
–Increased joint stiffness
–Decreased ability to respond to temperature changes
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Goal of a Senior Friendly Hospital
Provide care to the hospitalized senior
adult with a specialized team that has
advanced knowledge, that works
together to help each person reach
optimal function and independence in
an environment of dignity.
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Key Components of Senior Friendly Hospitals
• Physical environment and approach to care that
specializes in expert care for senior adult
• Early identification of risk factors and problems to prevent
or reverse an actual problem
• Respect for the senior adult’s ability to make choices
about services they receive
• Recognition of lifelong patterns and family relationships
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Physical Environment at the Hospital
• Minimize glare with soft lights
• Avoid blue and green color combination or yellow green
combination
• Use contrasting colors to highlight doors and change in
surfaces
• Avoid bold patterns on walls and floor
• Handrails should be a contrasting color
• Carpeting is better to reduce noise and glare
• Avoid glossy finishes on floors
• Use matte finish on walls
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Reception Area
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Family and Patient Area
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Family and Patient Area
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Physical Environment at the Hospital
• Door handles should be lever-style and not
twisting style
• Increased wall space, less clutter
• Avoid long hallways or have rest benches
• Patient controlled window blinds
• Handrails as much as possible
• Decrease volume controls of paging system
• Keep sensory devices at bedside (better to be
on)
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Hallways with Benches/Siderails
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Contrasting Colors
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Handrails
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Sensory devices near the patient (better to have them on!!)
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Physical Environment at the Hospital
• Install vertical and horizontal grab bar in
bathrooms
• Locate furniture to promote barrier free access
• Have wheelchair accessible showers
• Raised toilet seats
• Locate furniture to promote barrier free access
• Have wheelchair accessible showers
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Bathroom Design
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Bathroom Design
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Bathroom Design
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Hello….I am right here!!!!
Senior adults have the right to
be involved in decisions
affecting their care and
environment!!
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Supporting Personal Request
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Rehabilitation in the Acute Care Hospital
• Prescription of Rehabilitation Services
• Evaluation by Rehabilitation Professionals
• Rehabilitation Treatments
• Education
• Nursing involvement in the Rehabilitation Process
• Recommendations for Discharge
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Prescription of Rehabilitation Services
• Functional Screen performed by Nursing
• Physician order based on diagnosis
• Request from other disciplines on case
• Includes: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy,
Speech/ Language Pathology
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Evaluation by Rehabilitation Professionals
• Mobility
–Bed mobility
–Transfers (in/out
bed/chair)
–Gait
–Stairs
–Balance
• Swallowing
• Cognition
• Activities of Daily
Living
–Bathing
–Dressing
–Toileting
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Rehabilitation Treatments
• Mobility
–Practice specific
transfers
–Ambulation with best
possible device
–Bed mobility training
–Balance training
activities
–Stair training
• Therapeutic Exercise
–Bed Exercises
–Chair Exercises
–Standing Exercises
–Home Exercise
Program
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Rehabilitation Treatments (cont)
• Activities of Daily
Living
–Fine motor control
–Sequencing
–Functional Mobility and
balance training
–Performance of
shower, bath, dressing
and grooming tasks
–Energy conservation
• Swallowing
–Trials of different
consistencies of food/
liquid
–Exercises to increase
ability to swallow
–Advancement of diet
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Equipment Used in Hospital
• Gait Devices
• ADL devices
•
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Education
• Rehabilitation specialists provide education to both
patient and families that include:
–Home exercise program
–Safety issues
–Energy conservation
–Home modification
–Equipment needs at home
–Follow-up therapy care: outpatient, home care, subacute rehab, acute rehab
–Training caregivers on proper assistive techniques
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Nursing Involvement
• Assist patients with ambulation
• Educate patients on importance of movement
• Determine if patients are medically ready for rehabilitation
• Encourage proper diet and consistency of foods/ liquids
• Medicate patients in order to ensure reduced pain to
participate with rehabilitation
• Get patients out of bed
– chair
– bathroom
– shower
– commode
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Equipment used with Nursing
• Liko Lifts
• Commodes
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Recommendation for Next level of Rehabilitation Care
•Home
•Outpatient Rehabilitation
•Home Health Care
•Sub-acute Rehabilitation
•Acute Rehabilitation
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LET’S KEEP MOVING!!
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References
Brown, C., Redden, D., Flood, K., & Allman, R. (2009).
The under-recognized epidemic of low mobility during
hospitalizations of older adults. Journal of the American
Geriatrics Society, 57, (9), 1660-1665.
Bongort, L. (2010). The elder-friendly hospital
environment. Improving outcome for older adults. Facility
Management, August 2010, 12-15.
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