special subjects
Hospital Care for Older Adults
Introduction
More than one third of people admitted to the hospital are older adults. And at any time, almost half of people in the hospital are 65 or older. Almost half of older adults seen in an emergency department are admitted to the hospital. When many older adults leave the hospital, they may be in worse shape than before they became ill. Part of the reason for the decline is that older adults tend to have longstanding serious and debilitating disorders when they enter the hospital. (See also Problems Due to Hospitalization .) However, part of the reason is just being in a hospital, which can cause problems, regardless of age. Older adults are more likely to already have or to develop these problems, and the consequences are more likely to be serious for the following reasons: Changes that occur as people age make them more likely to become suddenly and noticeably confused (have Delirium ). Dehydration:Older adults tend to feel thirsty less quickly or less intensely than younger people. They thus are inclined to drink less, especially when circumstances make getting water more difficult, as occurs in a hospital. Falls in Older Adults : Urinary Incontinence in Adults : Loss of independence:During a hospital stay, older adults may become unable to take care of themselves because staff members provide this care (such as bathing). Loss of muscle tissue:When they spend a lot of time in bed or are immobilized, older adults tend to lose more muscle tissue and lose it more quickly. Pressure Sores : Before entering the hospital, many older adults are taking several medications (see also Aging and Medications ). In the hospital, more medications may be prescribed. The more medications people take, the greater the chance for side effects and interactions with other drugs, supplements, or foods. Also, older adults are more sensitive to the effects of certain medications. Undernutrition : Many older adults have difficulty bouncing back psychologically and physically from the experience of being in a hospital as well as from the disorder they have had. 