Evidence Briefing: Hospital Associated Deconditioning

Acute illness in older adults that results in hospitalisation can trigger deconditioning and functional decline. Several risk factors, in addition to prolonged bed-rest, account for hospital-associated deconditioning (HAD). Evidence indicates that an integrated, multi-component approach to addressing co-existing risk factors may reduce HAD syndromes as well as hospital length of stay. This approach would include reducing sedentary behaviour, educating and supporting patients to be more mobile, and modifying the hospital environment to facilitate activities based around socialising. Our attached poster summarises the four areas to be addressed in future work: Physical activity. Eating drinking and continence. Promoting recovery. Predictors and measures.