The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jul 2005
Comparative StudyHospitalization and development of dependence in activities of daily living in a cohort of disabled older women: the Women's Health and Aging Study I.
Changes in self-reported function in older adults are known to occur in the 2 weeks prior to, during, and in the first few months after hospitalization. The long-term outcome of hospitalization on functional status in disabled older adults is not known. The objective of this study was to determine whether hospitalization predicts long-term Activities of Daily Living (ADL) dependence in previously ADL independent, although disabled, older women. ⋯ These results suggest that hospitalization has an independent and dose-response effect on loss of ADL independence in disabled older women over an 18-month period.