ROOMING-IN FOR ELDERLY SURGICAL PATIENTS

Elderly patients are at risk for developing acute confusion during hos pitalization, Rooming-in, an intervention frequently used for pediatri c patients, was compared to usual care in a sample of 24 elderly patie nts hospitalized for orthopedic surgery. Although confusion during hos pitalization, complicate rate, and length of stay did not differ betwe en patients who did and did not have rooming-in, the family members an d friends who roomed in were very satisfied with the experience. These findings suggest that rooming-in is feasible and highly satisfactory to the patient's family and/or friends. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Sau nders Company.