Effective rehabilitation of older people in a district rehabilitation centre.

Authors

  • Inger Johansen
  • Morten Lindbaek
  • Johan Kvalvik Stanghelle
  • Mette Brekke

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-0792

Keywords:

aged, aged over 80, activities of daily living, rehabilitation, hospital, district.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of rehabilitation of older patients in a district rehabilitation centre. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PATIENTS: A total of 202 patients aged ≥ 65 years rehabilitated at a Norwegian district inpatient rehabilitation centre, referred from district hospital, nursing homes or their own homes. Diagnoses were: stroke, arthrosis, hip fracture and other chronic diseases. METHODS: Admission: according to rehabilitation potential. TREATMENT: multidisciplinary team including an experienced general practitioner. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Sunnaas Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Index (SI). SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Umea Life Satisfaction Checklist (LSC). Cognitive (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)), emotional (Symptom Check List-10) and marital status, residence, length of stay and hours/week private and home care services were recorded. RESULTS: SI increased significantly during the mean 3.1 weeks stay (mean 4.2, 95% confidence interval 3.5, 4.8), p<0.001), persisting after 3 months. Eighty-four percent of patients scored satisfied according to LSC after rehabilitation. SI at discharge (adjusted for SI at admission) was predicted by MMSE and type of residence. Seventy-four percent of the patients needed home care services <3 h/week, at discharge and 3 months later. CONCLUSION: Significant and persisting improvements in activities of daily living may be achieved by rehabilitation of older patients with stroke, arthrosis, hip fracture and other chronic diseases in a district inpatient rehabilitation centre with co-ordinated and multi-disciplinary rehabilitation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2011-03-07

How to Cite

Johansen, I., Lindbaek, M., Stanghelle, J. K., & Brekke, M. (2011). Effective rehabilitation of older people in a district rehabilitation centre. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 43(5), 461–464. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-0792

Issue

Section

Short Communication