Attitudinal Stumbling Blocks to Geriatric Rehabilitation

Abstract

Attitudes held by geriatric patients, their families, and hospital staff are frequent obstacles to successful rehabilitation following acute illness. These attitudes interfere with patients' motivation for increasing physical independence and result in patients' becoming stranded at a more dependent level of function. Three distinct attitudes frequently encountered in geriatric rehabilitation are identified: the prejudice of ageism, the right of dependency, and the apathy of fatigue. Recognition of these attitudinal syndromes permits effective treatment interventions to enable poorly motivated geriatric rehabilitation patients to progress towards functional independence.

How Gender Affects Psychological Adjustment One Year After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

“…Depression is characterized as a disorder of mood and is accompanied with other changes-cognitive, physiological, and behavioral disturbances (Bertrus, Elmore, Woods, & Hamilton, 1995). In an elderly population, depressive disorders may slow recovery from physical conditions and is associated with a higher death rate (Hesse, Campion, & Karamouz, 1984;Rovner, German, Brant, Clark, Borton, & Folstein, 1991). Among patients with CHD, emotional maladjustment may persist three to five years after myocardial infarction (Forrester et al, 1992;Havik & Maelands, 1990;Waltz, Badura, Pfaff, & Schott, 1988).…”

The Role of Private Prayer in Psychological Recovery Among Midlife and Aged Patients Following Cardiac Surgery

“…Previous research has frequently linked depression among elderly adults with chronic conditions, especially CHD. Depressive disorders are associated generally with slower recovery from physical conditions and with a higher death rate (Hesse, Campion, & Karamouz, 1984;Rovner et al, 1991).…”

Stroke Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Comparison across Age Groups

“…Rehabilitation may also be biased towards the needs of younger adults. Health professionals report attitudinal barriers to rehabilitation for older adults, 14, 15 and older adults perceive the rehabilitation environment more negatively 16 …”