Ambulation Patterns Post-Discharge in Older Adults Identified as Fall Risk: A Descriptive Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Movement Science

Background:

• Older adults identified as fall risks during hospitalization face potential declines in mobility.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the ambulation frequency and post-discharge recovery patterns in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ambulation frequency, patterns, functional performance, and fear of falls in older adults identified as fall risks.
• To analyze the trajectory of ambulation post-acute hospitalization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized accelerometers to track ambulation during hospitalization and for 4 weeks post-discharge in 14 older adults.
• Employed novel piecewise regression analytics to analyze complex ambulation data.
• Assessed functional performance using Katz Activities of Daily Living Index and gait speed, alongside fear of falls scores.

Main Results:

• Ambulation patterns were highly heterogeneous among participants.
• A significant portion (64%) showed no change in ambulation in the first two weeks post-discharge.
• Increased ambulation frequency correlated positively with higher functional status (Katz ADL), faster gait speed, and lower fear of falls.

Conclusions:

• Ambulation patterns in older adults at fall risk provide valuable insights into recovery trajectories.
• Findings suggest that post-discharge ambulation recovery is not uniform and can be linked to baseline functional abilities and psychological factors.
• Monitoring ambulation patterns may aid in assessing functional recovery and informing interventions for at-risk older adults.