Examination of care-planning needs for elderly newly admitted to an acute care setting

This study examined characteristics of elderly people newly admitted to an acute care setting who should be included in routine care planning. The mean serum albumin for the 137 participants was 3.0 g/dL, and 75% (n = 102) needed assistance with activity/transfer and going up stairs. Of the participants, 32.4% (n = 44) experienced some degree of either fecal or urinary incontinence. Use of the nutritional, functional, and cognitive profile developed from this study will enable nurses and medical personnel to better plan care to prevent functional decline and improve nutritional status during hospitalization of elderly patients.