The Relationship of Physical Function, Physical Resilience, and Physical Activity Among Recently Hospitalized Older...

This study aimed to test whether physical resilience moderated the association of physical function and physical activity among a sample of recently discharged older adults with dementia.

This was a descriptive substudy using data from a parent study titled Function Focused Care for Acute Care Using the Evidence Integration Triangle Study. We obtained data on 368 participants through care partners' report via phone call at 1 month post hospital discharge. We used linear mixed models, accounting for clustering of patients discharged from the same hospitals.

Physical resilience negatively moderated the association of physical function and physical activity (b = -0.003, SE = 0.001, p ≤ .001), controlling for group status, comorbidities, cognitive impairment severity, and gender.

The greater the participants' physical resilience, the weaker the relationship between physical function and physical activity. Significance/Implications: The findings are consistent with the conceptualization of physical resilience as an important and distinct mental state that provides an individual determination to optimize their function to the best of their ability. This work supports physical resilience interventions for recently discharged older adults with dementia who demonstrate low physical resilience or low function.