Function-focused care programme for older people in Korean long-term care facilities

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Long-term care facilities (LTCs) house a significant population of older adults with varying functional statuses.
• Maintaining cognitive, physical, and psychological well-being is crucial for residents in LTCs.
• Existing care models may not fully address the complex needs of LTC residents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the Korean Function-Focused Care Programme (K-FFCP).
• To assess the K-FFCP's impact on cognitive, physical, and psychological status in LTC residents.
• To determine the feasibility and effectiveness of the K-FFCP for improving older adults' functions.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental repeated-measures design was employed.
• The K-FFCP was implemented for six weeks in LTC facilities.
• Outcomes including cognitive status, ADL performance, physical capability, grip strength, fear of falling, depression, and anxiety were measured at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks.

Main Results:

• A significant group-time interaction effect was observed for activities of daily living (ADL) performance.
• Significant improvements in depression were noted in the experimental group.
• The K-FFCP demonstrated feasibility in the LTC setting.

Conclusions:

• The K-FFCP is a feasible intervention for older adults in long-term care facilities.
• The program showed significant positive effects on ADL performance and depression.
• Findings support the K-FFCP's importance for maintaining functional status in LTC residents.