The experience of recovery from ambulation disability among discharged elderly patients

• Main Authors: Hsuan-JuHuang, 黃璇如
• Other Authors: Ching-Huey Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/02109008702821820829

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 護理學系 === 102 === Chronic illness, hospitalization, and functional disability are common health issues among older adults. This study aims to discover the motivation and recovery of walking ability for the elderly with ambulation disabilities, after being discharged from the hospital. The study adopted the purposive sampling in an elderly clinic of a medical center in Tainan City to collect data. The inclusion criteria were: 1) age 65 or over; 2) mentally healthy; 3) without surgery during hospitalization; 5) decreasing in walking function during hospitalization and returning home for care; 6) continuing a follow-up in a clinic and walking again within 3 months after returning home. One-on-one interviews were conducted with the subjects who had a walking disability when leaving the hospital but currently recovered, in order to learn about their feels and experience. Both audio and verbatim recordings were used for collecting data. ATLAS.ti was employed for data analysis. There were four interviewees in total, including one male and three females, and their ages are between 73 and 87. “Adaptation” is the research result completed in the Taiwanese culture. This study found that the recovery of walking ability includes three factors such as adapting treatment, being independent, and agricultural adjustment act. The results suggest that the seniors, when returning home, often receive assistance from relatives and friends, especially from families.