[Elderly hospitalised people and walking capacities]

Abstract

Falls in the elderly are frequent. A study carried out over 6 months in a university hospital's acute geriatric unit highlighted the real walking capacities of hospitalised elderly people. It also changed the perception of caregivers, doctors and nurses with regard to the real physical aptitudes of these patients enabling the risk of falls to be reduced in preparation for their return home or to a residential care home.

Keywords: care; chute; fall; hospitalised elderly person; mobility; mobilité; personne âgée hospitalisée; prevention; prise en soins; prévention.