Rehabilitation nursing in the elderly with mobility deficit due to fracture of the femur

Abstract

The Portuguese population is becoming increasingly aged, so all the changes concerning this process led to an increase of the risk of falling. The reduced mobility after undergoing a surgical process led to the development and implementation of a rehabilitation nursing programme especially directed to the elderly suffering from femur fracture. The specialist nurse’s skills were developed through the implementation and evaluation of a plan of intervention using evaluation instruments depending on the identified focus and diagnosis. The intervention programme had as a result a functional improvement of the elderly people lives concerning mobility, balance, muscular strength and range of movement, allowing them to become more independent on their daily life activities as well. Through a specialized intervention, the rehabilitation nurse helps elderly patients to achieve health gains after having suffered from reduced mobility due to a femur fracture.