title: Impact of vision impairment on intensity of occupational therapy utilization and outcomes in subacute rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether vision impairment is a predictor of intensity of occupational therapy utilization and outcomes in a sample of older adults ages ≥55 receiving subacute rehabilitation in a long-term care setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for this cohort study were collected by means of structured, in-person interviews with 100 older adult rehabilitation patients at admission to a subacute unit in a long-term care facility and by medical chart review after discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analyses indicated that after controlling for sociodemographic, health, and social support variables, worse contrast sensitivity was a significant predictor of decreased time in occupational therapy, and worse visual acuity was a significant predictor of higher functional dependency at discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vision impairment may prevent full use of occupational therapy and hinder occupational therapy efficacy in subacute care settings. Study findings underscore the importance of developing low vision rehabilitation interventions that can be delivered in conjunction with more traditional subacute rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Jewish Home Life Care, Research Institute on Aging, The Guild Center for Research in Vision and Aging, 120 West 106th Street, PH, New York, NY 10025, USA. vcimarolli@jewishhome.org
authors.forename: Verena R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Cimarolli
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: Joann P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012046:Rehabilitation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D019467:Subacute Care; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000534:rehabilitation*