Factors affecting outpatient rehabilitation outcomes in elders.

PURPOSE: To identify factors affecting outpatient rehabilitation outcomes in elders.
DESIGN: A retrospective cohort design was used to explore factors affecting outpatient rehabilitation outcomes in elders.
METHODS: Analyses of health records from a nurse-managed comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility were conducted. Data pertinent to the study were abstracted from 201 health records, including scores from three standard instruments: the Functional Independence Measure, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Geriatric Depression Scale, to construct study variables. Multivariate and stepwise regression analyses were performed.
FINDINGS: Cognitive impairment was associated with lower admission and discharge function, but not with rehabilitation outcomes (functional gain, rehabilitation efficiency, days of service, and discharge location). Age > or = 80 years, admission function, and the interaction of age > or = 80 years and admission function affected functional gain and rehabilitation efficiency. Older age, being Black, and having more medical comorbidities were associated with days of service. None of these factors contributed to discharge location.
CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive impairment was not associated with outpatient rehabilitation outcomes. Rather, age > or = 80 years and function when admitted affected functional gain and rehabilitation efficiency in elders who participated in outpatient rehabilitation services.