Supporting Elderly Recovery: Navigating Health Challenges After Illness - Geriatrics

The elderly person was generally healthy, but after a serious illness, their physical strength has significantly declined?

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Hello, doctor.
I would like to ask for advice regarding medical management for my grandfather, who is currently 97 years old.
Two years ago, he experienced confusion upon waking up, with low blood pressure.
He was subsequently hospitalized and diagnosed with ascites and cirrhosis by a gastroenterologist, and was prescribed diuretics.
He has been taking medications including aspirin and antihypertensive drugs.
Initially, his condition was severe, and we thought he might not survive, but after hospitalization, he recovered.
Although his physical strength is not what it used to be, he has been able to travel and generally walks around.
His dietary intake is normal, and his blood pressure is maintained around 110/60, with a heart rate of about 50.
About a year ago, his weight suddenly dropped from 80 kg to 65 kg.
Recently, on October 2nd (Sunday), he suddenly reported weakness in his legs and felt unable to use them.
He then developed a fever of 39 degrees Celsius.
That day, he was given antipyretics, and a family member reported a positive COVID-19 test.
I suspected he might be infected, but subsequent rapid tests for him and my grandmother, who sleeps in the same room, were negative.
Since my grandfather has not been vaccinated, we were hesitant to seek medical attention on the day of the fever.
After administering antipyretics, he regained some appetite and consumed Ensure.
The next morning, his temperature was 37.5 degrees Celsius, so we continued with antipyretics (such as acetaminophen) until Wednesday when his temperature normalized.
However, his physical condition was significantly poor.
For the previous two days, his oxygen saturation measured between 90-94%, but by Thursday, it improved to 98%.
His blood pressure and other vital signs remained normal.
One concerning observation was that on Thursday morning, when palpating the radial artery, I noticed a pattern of strong beats followed by weak ones, and then it would alternate again.
By Friday morning, the measurements were slightly more normal, without significant variations in pulse strength.
I have been visiting my grandfather daily to assist with simple rehabilitation and encourage him to practice walking.
Recently, he has been able to get out of bed, but he often complains of back pain from sitting too long and prefers to lie down, spending more time resting with his eyes closed.
My question is, for an elderly person who was relatively healthy but suddenly experiences an unexplained fever (a serious illness) and is bedridden for two days, resulting in difficulty turning over and shortness of breath when trying to walk, should we proceed with rehabilitation or wait until his strength improves before seeking a complete physical examination? I suspect that the shortness of breath and fever could be due to pneumonia.
I hope to improve his quality of life through rehabilitation (or by identifying the cause of the fever for treatment) so that he can regain some independence.
What should I do? Additionally, my grandfather may have strained his back when getting up on the day he developed a fever, and he currently experiences back pain.
Can I administer pain relief medication and then gradually start rehabilitation exercises or follow online resources for elderly rehabilitation? I have many questions and complex feelings, and I would appreciate your advice on supportive care or medical management for my grandfather.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read my lengthy inquiry, and I hope you can address my concerns.

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Yongyuan de Ling, 90~99 year old female. Ask Date: 2022/10/16