A Randomized Trial of Care in a Hospital Medical Unit Especially Designed to Improve the Functional Outcomes of Acutely Ill Older Patients

摘要: Background Older persons who are hospitalized for acute illnesses often lose their independence and discharged to institutions long-term care. Methods We studied 651 patients 70 years of age or older were admitted general medical care at a teaching hospital; these randomly assigned receive usual be cared in special unit designed help maintain achieve self-care activities. The key elements this program specially prepared environment (with, example, uncluttered hallways, large clocks calendars, handrails); patient-centered emphasizing independence, including specific protocols prevention disability rehabilitation; discharge planning with the goal returning patient his her home; intensive review minimize adverse effects procedures medications. main outcome we measured was change from admission number five ...