Effects of reablement on home-dwelling older adults’ physical functioning: a quasi-experimental study in primary healthcare

Reablement at home takes place in health and social care services globally to support older adults in achieving independent and meaningful daily living and reducing the need for long-term care. However, research into reablement at home is scarce and the results are partly conflicting. To describe the characteristics of reablement participants and evaluate the effects of reablement on their physical functioning at six-month follow-up. A quasi-experimental one-group design was employed, with assessments of physical functioning conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up within a primary healthcare setting in Finland. Home-dwelling older adults (n = 55) receiving interdisciplinary reablement care who met the inclusion criteria. Primary outcomes are the Short Physical Performance Battery test and hand grip strength. Data collection was carried out during reablement visits by physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Results are described by mean, standard deviation and maximum and minimum values at baseline. Overall effects are estimated with linear mixed-effects model repeated measure analysis. The mean age of participants was 80.6 (SD 7.2) years. Physical functioning improved between baseline and post-test and between baseline and six-month follow-up. Improvement was shown especially in lower limb performance, in which the changes between baseline and post-test were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The results indicate that reablement increases the physical functioning of home-dwelling older adults with functional decline at six-month follow-up. Reablement is therefore recommended for the corresponding target groups.