Dynamics of Functioning among Brazilian Institutionalized Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Javier Jerez-Roig
Keywords: Activities of Daily Living. Aged. Disabled Persons. Longitudinal Studies. Nursing Homes
Abstract : Although analyzing the evolution of functional capacity is fundamental for the planning of strategies aimed at preventing or delaying disability, there is a lack of studies on this field in institutionalized older adults in Latin America. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of functional decline, functional maintenance and functional improvement in the basic activities of daily living in institutionalized older adults. Furthermore, we aimed at analyzing the evolution of functional capacity for each activity. Methodology: A two-year (period of 2013-2015), five-wave longitudinal study was conducted in residents aged ≥60 of 10 nursing homes in the city of Natal-RN (Brazil). The activities 'eating', 'personal hygiene', 'dressing', 'bathing', 'transferring' and 'walking' were assessed by a 5-points Likert scale (0-4) every 6 months. Sociodemographic institution-related and health-related variables were considered for descriptive analyses. The sample consisted of 280 older adults, of which 140, 50.0% (95% CI: 44.2 to 55.8%) presented functional decline, 94, 33.6% (95% CI: 28.3 to 39.3%) stability, and 40, 14.3% (95% CI: 10.7- 18.9%) functional improvement. The activity that suffered the highest decline was 'eating' (-0.54 points), followed by 'walking' (-0.43), 'dressing' (-0.35) and 'transferring' (-0.31). The items that suffered less decline were 'toileting' (-0.22), 'personal hygiene' (-0.24) and 'bathing' (-0.29). It can be concluded that 50% of institutionalized older adults experienced functional decline and only 14% approximately improved. Eating was the activity that suffered the most pronounced decline, followed by mobility and self-care activities.
05-05-2018
Javier Jerez-Roig
0 Comments
| Citation: Javier Jerez-Roig. Dynamics of Functioning among Brazilian Institutionalized Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study. https://doi.org/10.24175/sbd.2018.000043 |
| Received: May 05, 2018 Accepted: May 07, 2018 Published: May 07, 2018 |
| Copyright: © 2018 Javier Jerez-Roig. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC), which allows, distribution, reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited and non-commercial use. |
| Funding: I certify that no funding has been received for the conduct of this study and/or preparation of this manuscript. |
| Conflicts of Interest: I have no conflicts of interest to declare |
Dynamics of Functioning among Brazilian Institutionalized Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study
Javier Jerez-Roig, PhD1,2,3, Lidiane Maria de Brito Macedo Ferreira, PhD4, José Rodolfo Torres de Araújo, MD 5 and Kenio Costa Lima, PhD3
1Methodology, Methods, Models and Health and Social Outcomes research group, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia, C. Sagrada Família, 7, 08500 Vic, Spain
2Facultat de Psicologia, Ciències de l'Educació i de l'Esport Blanquerna (Universitat Ramon Llull), C/ Císter 34, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
3Postgraduate Program in Collective Health, Odontology Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Avenida Salgado Filho 1787, 59010-000, Lagoa Nova, Natal-RN, Brazil.
4Departamento de Cirurgia, Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, UFRN, Av. Nilo Peçanha, 620, 59012-300, Petrópolis, Natal - RN, Brazil
5Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Av. Gustavo Cordeiro de Farias, s/n, Petrópolis, Natal RN, CEP 59.012-570, Natal-RN, Brazil
Key words: Activities of Daily Living. Aged. Disabled Persons. Longitudinal Studies. Nursing Homes.
Although analyzing the evolution of functional capacity is fundamental for the planning of strategies aimed at preventing or delaying disability, there is a lack of studies on this field in institutionalized older adults in Latin America. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of functional decline, functional maintenance and functional improvement in the basic activities of daily living in institutionalized older adults. Furthermore, we aimed at analyzing the evolution of functional capacity for each activity. Methodology: A two-year (period of 2013-2015), five-wave longitudinal study was conducted in residents aged ≥60 of 10 nursing homes in the city of Natal-RN (Brazil). The activities 'eating', 'personal hygiene', 'dressing', 'bathing', 'transferring' and 'walking' were assessed by a 5-points Likert scale (0-4) every 6 months. Sociodemographic institution-related and health-related variables were considered for descriptive analyses. The sample consisted of 280 older adults, of which 140, 50.0% (95% CI: 44.2 to 55.8%) presented functional decline, 94, 33.6% (95% CI: 28.3 to 39.3%) stability, and 40, 14.3% (95% CI: 10.7- 18.9%) functional improvement. The activity that suffered the highest decline was 'eating' (-0.54 points), followed by 'walking' (-0.43), 'dressing' (-0.35) and 'transferring' (-0.31). The items that suffered less decline were 'toileting' (-0.22), 'personal hygiene' (-0.24) and 'bathing' (-0.29). It can be concluded that 50% of institutionalized older adults experienced functional decline and only 14% approximately improved. Eating was the activity that suffered the most pronounced decline, followed by mobility and self-care activities.
