Effectiveness of occupational therapy with frail community living older adults.
This study examined the effectiveness of short-term, home-based occupational therapy guided by the Occupational Therapy Intervention Process Model for improving activities of daily living [ADL] with eight frail, older adults living in assistive living. A multi-method research approach was utilized to collect both quantitative and descriptive, qualitative data in the form of a retrospective examination of the participants' clinical records. The quantitative component was a within-subjects, repeated-measures analysis of participants' Assessment of Motor and Process Skills [AMPS] ADL motor and ADL process ability measures that revealed statistically significant improvement in ADL motor, but not ADL process abilities. The qualitative component was a content analysis of the clinical records. ADL baselines, goals, interventions and outcomes documented were analyzed. Improvement was noted in 77% of the written ADL goals. Results are discussed and recommendations were given for future research and documentation to improve the profession's ability to support evidence-based practice.
Fisher
Anne G
AG
Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. anne.fisher@occupther.umu.se
Atler
Karen
K
Potts
Andrew
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States