Long-term care units: a Portuguese study about the functional profile

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
• Public Health and Healthcare Management

Background:

• Understanding the functional trajectory of older adults in long-term care (LTC) is crucial for optimizing care.
• Demographic and emotional factors may influence the functional profile and recovery of elderly individuals in LTC settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the relationship between the functional profile of older adults in Portuguese LTC units and demographic variables (education, sex, age) and emotional state.
• To investigate the longitudinal changes in functional status during hospitalization in LTC.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal analysis of retrospective data from 59,516 older adults in Portugal's National Network of Integrated Continuous Care.
• Calculation of functional profiles based on hospitalization data, including activities of daily living, cognitive state, mobility, and instrumental activities of daily living.

Main Results:

• Initial improvement in activities of daily living and cognitive state within 90 days, followed by worsening mobility and instrumental activities of daily living.
• A general decline across all functional domains observed after 450 days of hospitalization.
• Older women with no formal education, those over 85 years, and individuals with anxiety exhibited greater dependence.

Conclusions:

• Hospitalization between 90 and 360 days was associated with the best functional outcomes in Portuguese LTC units.
• Functional status evaluation during long-term hospitalization is vital.
• Educational level significantly influences the recovery and rehabilitation of dependence in older adults.