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Daily living functions of the elderly requiring home visits: A study at a comprehensive assessment clinic for the elderly
Author(s) -
Yamanaka Takashi,
Takasugi Emiko,
Hotta Norihiro,
Kubo Yutaka,
Otsuka Kuniaki
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0594.2007.00429.x
Subject(s) - medicine , geriatric depression scale , activities of daily living , gerontology , vitality , psychological intervention , barthel index , geriatrics , dementia , depression (economics) , physical therapy , cognition , psychiatry , depressive symptoms , philosophy , theology , disease , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Background: To elucidate the characteristics of daily living functions of the elderly requiring home visits. Methods: Fifty‐two elderly individuals (17 men and 35 women; age range, 72–95 years; average age, 82.2 ± 5.4 years) who visited a clinic for the elderly underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment. Activities of daily living were assessed using the Barthel Index and Lawton Scale. Cognitive function was assessed using the clock‐drawing test (modified Shulman method), Mini‐Mental State Examination, and the revised version of Hasegawa's Dementia Scale. Depression was assessed using the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale. Volition was assessed using the Vitality Index. The 52 participants were divided into two groups: 41 who continued clinic visits after assessment (clinic group: 15 men and 26 women; age range, 72–95 years; average age, 81.5 ± 5.4 years), and 11 who required home visits (visit group: two men and nine women; age range, 75–91 years; average age, 84.7 ± 4.5 years). Various daily living functions were compared between the two groups. Results: Barthel Index, Lawton Scale, Mini‐Mental State Examination, and Vitality Index scores were significantly lower in the home group. Moreover, Vitality Index score was low at the start of home visits. Conclusions: It is difficult for the elderly with cognitive and physical disorders to make periodical visits to medical institutions and they eventually require home visits. For effective prevention of dependence on nursing care, fragile elderly persons themselves must understand and actively participate in interventions, emphasizing the underlying difficulties associated with such interventions.