title: Defining Rehabilitation Success in Older Adults with Dementia--Results from an Inpatient Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the magnitude of functional recovery in older adults with and without dementia admitted to an inpatient geriatric rehabilitation program by measuring change in measures of global physical function and physical therapy treatment outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation academic hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive subjects, with (N=65, age 81.9±6.0 y) and without (N=157, age 82.8±7.2 y) a dementia diagnosis, had assessment data at admission and discharge from inpatient geriatric rehabilitation unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was used to estimate level of independence on activities of daily living. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and 2 Minute Walk Test (2MWT) were used to estimate functional mobility and endurance. The FIM (total, motor subscale, cognitive subscale scores) were used to calculate rehabilitation efficacy and efficiency scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for confounding, there was no group difference for gains on the BBS, TUG, 2MWT; there was no group difference on rehabilitation efficacy and efficiency values based on the FIM motor subscale. The magnitude of the rehabilitation gain using the total FIM score was statistically different between groups, people with dementia having smaller gains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older adults with a diagnosis of dementia are capable of making motor function recovery during inpatient sub-acute rehabilitation comparable to their peers without a dementia diagnosis. The metric used to evaluate functional recovery influences the determination of rehabilitation success between groups. Rehabilitation success should be defined among people with a dementia diagnosis by a change in the motor subscale of the FIM, rather than the total FIM score or the gain relative to the maximal FIM score.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Susan Hunter, University of Western Ontario, School of Physical Therapy, Room 1588, Elborn College, London, Ontario, Canada N6G 1H1, Phone: 519-661-2111 ext 88845, Email: susan.hunter@uwo.ca.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Muir-Hunter
authors.forename: G Lim
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Fat
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montero-Odasso
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006757:Hospital Units; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking