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.