Hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning in older adults

Hospital admissions can expose older adults to a spectrum of avoidable and costly harms. Not least of these is hospital-associated functional decline, defined as a loss of independence, from admission to discharge, in one or more activities of daily living (ADLs) e.g. bathing, dressing, transfers. This loss of independence has significant impacts, including an increased risk of acute re-admission, premature admission to residential aged care, and mortality. The aim of this project is to build the evidence base on hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning in order to improve preventive efforts before, during and after hospitalisation in older adults. Specific research questions may include: 1. What published evidence exists for interventions that can prevent/reduce hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning? 2. What are the prevalence, economic cost and consequences of hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning? 3. Can movement patterns detected using localisation/motion-based sensor technologies help predict hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning in hospitalised older adults? 4. Can a co-designed program reduce hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning in hospitalised older adults?