School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Disabil Rehabil. 2022 Dec;44(25):7818-7828. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1998671. Epub 2021 Nov 9.
The aim of this study was to explore older adults' experiences of and approaches to managing their long-term health and mobility after traumatic injury.
A longitudinal qualitative study was undertaken with older adults following traumatic injury in Victoria, Australia. Fifteen participants (≥65 years) were interviewed at three years post-injury ( = 15), and re-interviewed at four ( = 14) and five years ( = 12) post-injury. Using a framework approach, a longitudinal thematic analysis was performed.
Older age at the time of injury was identified by participants as a key factor influencing their recovery. Many participants reported actively attempting to regain their strength and fitness in the first five years following injury. However, their age, injury impacts, other health conditions, and weight gain made it difficult to achieve recovery goals. Many older adults reported a decline in their physical function over time. While these experiences and persistent disability constrained or changed the quality of social relationships, community participation, and independence, several participants described adapting to their functional limitations, and managing their secondary conditions over time.
In our cohort, the intertwined combination of ageing, injury, and comorbid conditions negatively affected health and mobility, reinforcing the need for preventative strategies.Implications for rehabilitationOlder adults recovering from traumatic injury may benefit from specialised care pathways that offer long-term and tailored therapies, with programs and services specific to their needs and goals.An integrated service approach by injury insurers, health care, primary care, disability, and aged care could more clearly identify and effectively address the individual needs and goals of older adults with complex conditions.Health and social services that work with people with injuries to develop personalised coping strategies can reduce anxiety related to uncertainty about the future, promote well-being, and support participation in valued activities.
本研究旨在探讨老年人在创伤后长期健康和移动能力管理方面的体验和方法。
本研究采用纵向定性研究方法，对澳大利亚维多利亚州创伤后老年人进行研究。15 名参与者（≥65 岁）在创伤后 3 年（ = 15）接受访谈，并在 4 年（ = 14）和 5 年（ = 12）后再次接受访谈。使用框架方法进行纵向主题分析。
参与者认为受伤时的年龄较大是影响其康复的关键因素。许多参与者报告在受伤后的前五年积极试图恢复体力和健康。然而，他们的年龄、受伤影响、其他健康状况和体重增加使得实现康复目标变得困难。许多老年人报告随着时间的推移，他们的身体功能下降。虽然这些经历和持续的残疾限制或改变了社会关系、社区参与和独立性的质量，但一些参与者描述了随着时间的推移适应他们的功能限制，并管理他们的次要疾病。
在我们的队列中，衰老、受伤和合并症的交织组合对健康和移动能力产生了负面影响，这强化了预防策略的必要性。
从创伤中恢复的老年人可能受益于专门的护理途径，提供长期和量身定制的治疗方法，以及针对其需求和目标的计划和服务。受伤保险公司、医疗保健、初级保健、残疾和老年护理机构的综合服务方法可以更清楚地识别和有效地满足具有复杂状况的老年人的个人需求和目标。与受伤者合作制定个性化应对策略的健康和社会服务可以减轻对未来不确定性的焦虑，促进幸福感，并支持参与有价值的活动。
