Problems of older adults living alone after hospitalization
- PMID: 11029674
- PMCID: PMC1495595
- DOI: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2000.06139.x
Problems of older adults living alone after hospitalization
Abstract
Objective: To describe functional deficits among older adults living alone and receiving home nursing following medical hospitalization, and the association of living alone with lack of functional improvement and nursing home utilization 1 month after hospitalization.
Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study.
Participants: Consecutive sample of patients age 65 and over receiving home nursing following medical hospitalization. Patients were excluded for new diagnosis of myocardial infarction or stroke in the previous 2 months, diagnosis of dementia if living alone, or nonambulatory status. Of 613 patients invited to participate, 312 agreed.
Measurements: One week after hospitalization, patients were assessed in the home for demographic information, medications, cognition, and self-report of prehospital and current mobility and function in activities of daily living (ADLs) and independent activities of daily living (IADLs). One month later, patients were asked about current function and nursing home utilization. The outcomes were lack of improvement in ADL function and nursing home utilization 1 month after hospitalization.
Results: One hundred forty-one (45%) patients lived alone. After hospital discharge, 40% of those living alone and 62% of those living with others had at least 1 ADL dependency (P =.0001). Patients who were ADL-dependent and lived alone were 3.3 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.4 to 7. 6) times less likely to improve in ADLs and 3.5 (95% CI, 1.0 to 11. 9) times more likely to be admitted to a nursing home in the month after hospitalization.
Conclusion: Patients who live alone and receive home nursing after hospitalization are less likely to improve in function and more likely to be admitted to a nursing home, compared with those who live with others. More intensive resources may be required to continue community living and maximize independence.
Figures

Comment in
-
Bringing a generalist approach to the problems of older patients.J Gen Intern Med. 2000 Sep;15(9):673-4. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2000.00719.x. J Gen Intern Med. 2000. PMID: 11029683 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
References
-
- Hirsch CH, Sommers L, Olsen A, Mullen L, Winograd CH. The natural history of functional morbidity in hospitalized older patients. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1990;38:1296–1303. - PubMed
-
- McVey LJ, Becker PM, Saltz CC, Feussner JR, Cohn HJ. Effect of a geriatric consultation team on functional status in elderly hospitalized patients. Ann Intern Med. 1989;110:78–84. - PubMed
-
- Sager MA, Franke T, Inouye SK, Landefeld S, Morgan TM, Rudberg MA, et al. Functional outcomes of acute medical illness and hospitalization in older persons. Arch Intern Med. 1996;156:645–52. - PubMed
-
- Sager MA, Rudberg MA, Jalaluddin M, et al. Hospital admission risk profile (HARP): identifying older patients at risk for functional decline following acute medical illness and hospitalization. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1996;44:251–7. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical