Hospitalization of the elderly: spirituality, risk of dependence, risk of falls and readmission

This study adopts the perspective of the elderly people (≥ 65 years old) to examine the influence of hospitalization at three moments (admission, hospital discharge, and follow-up 6 to 12 months later) in the variables: in/dependence; risk of breakdown in care; risk of falls; spirituality. Based on these variables was organized a model predictive of death. The sample comprised 250 participants, 50.4% were female. The EASYcare and Spirituality Scale were administered. The main results are: i) in admission the participants are more independent; ii) in discharge and follow-up are more dependent; iii) in admission the risk of rupture care is lower compared with the discharge; iv) at follow-up the risk of falling is lower, while on discharge is higher. Data suggest that discharge is the most critical moment, emerging some recovery at follow-up. The predictive model of death suggests: protective factors of death between admission and discharge are medium income and lack of social support; risk factors of death between discharge and follow-up are age and high risk of falling; protective factor of death between admission and follow-up is clinical history of cardiac problems.