Functional and self-efficacy changes of patients admitted to a Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit.

BACKGROUND Geriatric Rehabilitation Units (GRUs) have been established to restore functional abilities of older hospitalized patients. Although considerable health care resources have been allocated to these units, few outcome-based research studies have been reported on Canadian GRUs. AIM The aim of this paper is to report a study examining the effect of admission to a GRU on changes in patients' functional ability and self-efficacy in performing everyday activities at home. METHODS Following Institutional Review Board approval, data were collected from 40 patients age 65-101 years (mean 83.8, sd 6.57) admitted to a 21-bed interdisciplinary GRUs over a 7-month period. All were living independently prior to hospital admission. Data were collected on admission to the unit and on discharge using two instruments: the Functional Independence Measure and Falls Efficacy Scale. RESULTS Statistically significant improvements were found in functional ability and self-efficacy following admission to the GRUs. CONCLUSIONS Although functional level and feelings of self-efficacy on admission to the unit were at levels which may have prevented participants from returning home, the majority were discharged to the community. Results suggest that admission to a GRU helps prepare patients to return to community living.