To Örebro University

Introduction: Being old and visiting acute care several times has been shown to be more than a medical problem. Aging individuals often have a vulnerable life situation, with physical frailty combined with mental disorders. In occupational therapy it is important to assess and describe the elderly patients’ ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) and cognitive function. The aim is to describe ADL, cognitive function but also the risk for pressure sores, malnutrition and falls in this group.

Methods: This was a comparative study, where data were collected during four months. Persons 75 years, were assessed on one occasion by an occupational therapist using the ADL-taxonomy and the MMSE. Risks for pressure sores, malnutrition and falls were assessed using Risk Assessment Pressure Sores, Mini Nutritional Assessment, and Downton Fall Risk Index. External data was used for comparison.Results:60 persons were included, mean age was 84 years. The patients had a median of 4 diagnoses. Mean hospital stay was 5 days. Most patients were independent in food intake. There was a high degree of dependency in other ADL activities. Nineteen of 48 patients had 24 point or lower in MMSE. Compared to an age-matched sample, these patients showed a higher risk for pressure sores, risk for falls and dependency in ADL.

Conclusion: There is a need for assessments of ADL, cognition, risk for falls, and pressure sores in older people who are readmitted to hospitals. Such assessments, and necessary interventions taken, may prevent unnecessary admissions.