The bath environment, the bathing task, and the older adult: a review and future directions for bathing disability research.
OBJECTIVE
To review existing research studies to identify optimal intervention strategies for remediation and prevention of bathing disability and future directions for bathing disability research.


METHODS
Bathing disability, defined as problems in the interaction between the person and the environment during bathing performance, is examined through a comprehensive, narrative literature review.


RESULTS
Most studies focus on the relationship between the person and the environment (such as assistive device use and environmental hazards) while fewer studies focus on analysis of the bathing task or the interaction of the person, environment, and bathing task. Of intervention studies, most do not focus solely on remediation of bathing disability and outcomes vary widely.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to help remediate and prevent bathing disability, it will be necessary to better understand and measure the person-environment-occupation interaction involved in bathing as it relates to specific groups of older adults.
Murphy
Susan L
SL
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. sumurphy@umich.edu
Gretebeck
Kimberlee A
KA
Alexander
Neil B
NB
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001494:Baths; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis