Falls and functional decline
NCLEX-RN glossary · Health Promotion And Maintenance
Definition
The clinical nexus between impaired mobility and the progressive loss of the ability to perform basic activities of daily living (ADLs).
Falls and functional decline in plain English
In the elderly, functional decline is often a cue for a treatable acute process (like infection) rather than an inevitable consequence of aging. The main trap is attributing a client's sudden loss of independence or mobility solely to 'old age' instead of investigating acute medical triggers.
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