Mobility of elderly patients in bed. Measurement and association with patient condition.

ABSTRACT

Measurements were made of the overnight mobility of a group of elderly hospital patients whose clinical status had been assessed using the Norton clinical assessment score. The number of movements on the first two nights after admission differed from subsequent nights. There was a significant correlation between mobility and patient condition on all nights except the second. Patients assessed as being at high risk of developing pressure sores made fewer movements; mobility criteria are presented for detecting these individual patients.