Change of Ambulatory Ability and Required Home Care for Elderly with Hip Fracture during Two Months aft er Discharge

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify required home care during two months after discharge, by which elderly can most effectively recover, by clarifying the physical function and health status at two months after discharge to own home and home care provided for them during two months after discharge. Subjects are 68 elderly, aged sixty-five and over, treated at two hospitals in northern Japan and discharged to own home between November 2001 and August 2002. The data of the 52 included in this study were retrospectively obtained from medical records and structured interviews with them. In order to provide care adapted to the degree of independence, we analyzed the change of ambulatory ability during two months after discharge. Twenty-seven patients could walk without aids at prefracture. But only two could regain premorbid ambulation at two months after discharge. Five accessed home care services. In the meantime, seven have not walked since prefracture. At two months after discharge, they were in need of general assistance to live, that is to say, they became almost bedridden. Nevertheless they used only Day Service to take a bath and have lunch. These results suggest that it is essential for elderly with hip fracture to assess and make individual discharge plan for recuperating at home immediately after hospitalization, in order to promote their independence.