Life-Space Mobility Trajectories After Elective Surgery in Older Adults

How does life-space mobility (LSM) change after surgery, and what factors are associated with having restricted mobility and hospital readmission at 6 months? In this cohort study of 204 participants, the mean LSM declined at 2 months and recovered by 6 months, yet 40% had restricted mobility, underscoring chronic mobility limitations, despite advances in perioperative care. Persistent homebound status was associated with women, higher frailty, and caregiver dependence. These findings suggest that life-space assessments can better capture functional recovery after surgery and identify older patients at long-term risk of impaired mobility.

Corresponding Author: Martine Puts, RN, PhD, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, 155 College St, Ste 130, Toronto, ON M5T 1P8, Ontario, Canada (martine.puts@utoronto.ca).

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