Identifier: TFM:530
Authors: Torres Ros, Daniel
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Many elderly suffer loss of autonomy and risk of falls. Sometimes it is due to the functional deterioration of the aging process itself, in other cases the limitations comes from the conditions of a house with accessibility problems, which is not adequate to the needs of the person. The Assistive Products and Environmental Modifications are strategies that can help to improve the performance of Daily Life Activities and reduce the risk of falling. OBJECTIVE: To find out the effectiveness of a home-based intervention on elderly people residing in the province of Barcelona, based on provide and advising on the use of assistive products to improve autonomy in daily life activities. METHODS: Pilot, quasi-experimental study. Divided into two phases with pre and post intervention measurements. Implemented by an Occupational Therapist. First phase; assessment of difficulties in activities of daily living. Provided and advice of assistive products, as well as environmental modifications. All this in consensus and at the habitual domicile of the participating person. Second phase; the same Occupational Therapist made a second assessment. RESULTS: Nine participants were selected. Statistical analysis showed improvements in the results of the FES-I scale for fear of falling (p = 0.051). Clinically significant improvements were found on scales that measure the performance of activities of daily living (Barthel, Lawton and Brody) CONCLUSIONS: The use of adequate support products together with counselling and an improvement in the environmental disposition of the home of the elderly, can improve the quality of life, favoring the performance of activities of daily living, reducing falls and fear of suffer them. A future line of research would be to study how this type of intervention influences caregivers.
Repositori URV