OPTIMIZING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG OLDER HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS

Moderator: Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP
Physical activity during hospital admissions decreases pain, delirium, deep vein thrombosis, urinary tract infections and pneumonia, prevents functional decline without increasing the risk of falls and improves mood and quality of life. The benefits of physical activity last post hospitalization with ongoing improvement in function, physical activity, resilience, quality of life, and decreased rates of re-hospitalization. Unfortunately, despite these known benefits, most older adults spend the majority of the time when hospitalized in bed. There are many reasons for this from the patient’s perspective, the different members of the health care team, and the environment and policies within the setting. The purpose of this session is to identify these challenges and the ways in which to overcome them. Learning Objectives: (1) describe the challenges associated with engaging patients, including those living with dementia, in physical activity when hospitalized and identify disparities in overcoming challenges between males and females and Black and White patients; (2) demonstrate how to evaluate underlying capability and function of older patients and establish a plan of care related to physical activity when hospitalized; (3) utilize the capability assessment and UMOVE assessment and associated Progressive Mobility Chart to set a plan of care for physical activity of hospitalized older adults; and (4) discuss the four step approach to integrating a philosophy of care that focuses on optimizing physical activity of patients when hospitalized.