suitability for elderly rehabilitation

We are currently setting up a rehabilitation service for the elderly at a large general hospital, the aim being to provide intensive therapy to allow early discharge from the hospital bed. We obviously need to explore patients 'suitability' for rehabilitation before they are transferred from the acute unit to us. We have looked at exclusion criteria such as severe dementia, the inability to physically or mentally take part in a rehabilitation programme and those who are still medically unstable. However we need to look into the topic in greater detail. Is anybody aware of any criteria in use elsewhere? or any tools that can be used to assess an individuals capability for rehabilitation?

a mini mental assessment would be a good start. If the patient is unable to follow instructions or retain them then there is no use trying to rehab them for independent transfers and ambulation. If your aim is ambulation with min to mod assist for patients with dementia of more than a mild degree, just walk them on a rollator with 1 to 2 assist to build up there endurance. You would also need to assess their balance reactions especially for tandem BOS as well as the "get up and go" test. Hope this helps

If they're going home, look at: can they get out of bed and to the toilet and meals safely (if not independent, can they manage with a carer?); what's their home environment like?; and do they feel they will be able to manage at home with multidisciplinary support. Our team promotes early discharge of patients of all adult ages (average age 65) - as physio's, most of the patients we see are elderly respiratory or orthopaedic or just deconditioned from some lengthy/severe illness(es). We provide short-term support (up to 2 weeks on average) - if they need long-term rehab, we'd push for them to go to a rehab unit, unless they can be set-up at home with/without ongoing support services. When the service started 4 years ago, the admission criteria was strict and black-and-white. Now we look mainly at safety and likelihood of a successful discharge with support (and supporting some who choose to go home but are likely to fail). We occasionally see neurological patients, with mild impairments - or those with maximal assistance needs who have been set-up by inpatient OT's etc and just need short-term support and education, and maybe treatment from our nurses. We're in Sydney, Australia. Email me if you want to know more. Tools or outcome measures?? We have not strictly measured outcome yet - don't know quite where to start (patient groups so wide and input so rapid). Good luck.

hello! read your message am interested in geriatric rehabilitation and have completed my bachelors in physiotherapy. kindly guide me regarding ,how to proceed in my field of interest

hello! read your message am interested in geriatric rehabilitation and have completed my bachelors in physiotherapy. kindly guide me regarding ,how to proceed in my field of interest