Preventing Functional Decline Among Hospitalized Older Adults Through Interprofessional Nursing and Physiotherapy Collaboration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.4708Keywords:
hospital-associated deconditioning, functional decline, older adults, interprofessional collaboration, nursing, physiotherapyAbstract
Hospitalization poses a significant threat to the functional independence of older adults, often triggering a cascade of decline through deconditioning, delirium, and iatrogenic complications. Preventing this adverse outcome requires a fundamental shift from siloed care to deliberate, structured interprofessional collaboration, with the partnership between nursing and physiotherapy serving as a critical frontline intervention. This synergy leverages the nurses' continuous presence for the integration of mobility into daily care, alongside the physiotherapists' specialized expertise in assessment and therapeutic exercise, to create a consistent "culture of mobility." Through shared risk assessment, co-developed early mobilization protocols, and combined strategies for delirium prevention and pain management, this collaborative model proactively addresses the multifactorial nature of functional decline. Implementing such an approach is imperative to transform hospital stays from periods of high risk into therapeutic episodes that preserve the older adult's autonomy, reduce complications, and improve long-term health outcomes, ultimately ensuring that patients leave the hospital not only cured of their acute illness but with their functional capacity intact.
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