Reablement Intervention for Older Adults Conducted by a Multi Professional Home Rehabilitation Team

Reablement Intervention for Older Adults Conducted by a Multi Professional Home Rehabilitation Team: A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) With Qualitative Follow-ups of the Intervention

Background: People live increasingly longer and are expected to function independently in their own homes to a greater extent than before. This puts great demands on the support given to older persons living at home, to be efficient and provide good conditions for them to manage on their own and experience good health. Short time goal directed reablement delivered by a multidisciplinary team is expected to strengthen the functional capacity and quality of life, while home care-hours and thus municipal expenditures decline. Theoretical focus of this project is related to international classification of functionality and disability (ICF) in which participation are understood as engagement in life situations and related to the environment as well as the person. Reablement is expected to extend the time of independent and autonomous life for older persons while also reducing municipal costs of elder care.

Aim: This research project measures the effects of reablement in terms of bio-psycho-social health among older people (65+). In addition, the project highlights older person's experiences of the intervention and the professional team´s experiences of working with reablement.

Methods: This is a randomized controlled study of the intervention reablement performed by the multiprofessional team with controls receiving usual home care. The effects are measured by self-reported health and quality of life, physical capacity, and home care hours. Data are collected at inclusion (applying for home care), after the three months intervention and at six months. Interviews with users are performed after the intervention, and staff experiences through written narratives.

Impact of results: This project will contribute with collecting possible evidence of reablement, and contribute with knowledge development of older persons' bio-psycho-social health and experiences.

Inclusion Criteria:

• older adults, over 65 years
• residing in the central areas of Eskilstuna municipality
• applying for social care and services delivered by the municipality of Eskilstuna

Exclusion Criteria:

• life-threatening disease
• severe mental illness
• severe cognitive dysfunction
• other conditions that prevent the participants from expressing their will or desires