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Functional ability of very elderly people
Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
|September 8, 1993
Summary
Very elderly individuals with poor functional ability experience significant health and social challenges. They require more support services, yet often lack access to rehabilitation and social care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Social Care Research
Background:
- Functional ability significantly impacts the well-being of the very elderly.
- Understanding the evolving needs of this demographic is crucial for effective care planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the circumstances and changing functional abilities of very elderly individuals over 2.5 years.
- To identify specific needs of those with poor functional ability.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking functional ability and associated factors in the very elderly.
- Analysis of health status, emotional well-being, social networks, and service utilization.
Main Results:
- Poor functional ability correlates with increased health problems and diminished emotional well-being.
- Individuals with low functional ability have limited social networks and greater needs for assistance, particularly with daily living tasks.
- Despite higher needs, access to specialized rehabilitation and social support services was limited.
Conclusions:
- The very elderly with poor functional ability represent a vulnerable group requiring targeted interventions.
- Current service provision may not adequately address the complex health and social support needs of this population.
- Further research into effective rehabilitation and social support models is warranted.