Older Adults’ Personal Routine at Time of Hospitalization

This study is the first to explore whether hospitalization disrupts the daily routines of dependent and independent older adults. Data were collected as part of a prospectively designed study from 330 hospitalized older adults age 70+. Patients reported prehospitalization frequency, duration, and timing of basic activities of daily living and leisure activities at hospital admission. Hospital routine was assessed on day of discharge. Results indicated that frequency and duration of most activities decreased during hospitalization; the sharpest decrease was in getting dressed. Showering occurred two hours earlier in the hospital, and getting dressed an hour and a half later. For dependent respondents, the greatest change was in duration; for independent respondents, the greatest change was in frequency. Given the importance of personal routine maintenance to health and well-being, it should be considered a key component for intervention to minimize the adverse functional outcomes and impact recovery.