Setting handicap goals with elderly people: a pilot study of the Life Strengths Interview.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether the Life Strengths Interview (LSI) is a useful clinical framework to identify handicap goals.


METHODS
Clinical case studies.


METHODS
Two elderly care rehabilitation hospitals.


METHODS
Five people, whose ages ranged from 73 to 90 years. All participants were aware of their likely resultant disability, scored 25+ out of a possible 30 with the Mini-Mental State Examination, were able to communicate effectively and were due to be discharged home in approximately one month.


METHODS
Each participant undertook the LSI process with the research occupational therapist.


METHODS
Identified rehabilitation goals and their achievement.


RESULTS
Goals were focused around families and other support networks. Six to eight weeks following discharge, achievement of goals varied.


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study suggests that the LSI may be a useful clinical framework but further research needs to investigate whether a modified clinical version may be more suitable.
Pomeroy
V M
VM
Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust, UK.
Conroy
M C
MC
Coleman
P G
PG
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012944:Social Support; D012945:Social Values