BackgroundA physically active lifestyle in older people contributes to the preservation of good health. We assessed the influence of physiotherapy on daily functioning among community dwelling older people (75+) with complex health problems identified with screening, versus usual care. We also compared functional task exercise (FTE), with problems prioritized by older people, trained in the home environment, versus usual preventive physical therapy (PPT).MethodsDesign: FTE and PPT were compared in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Both interventions were compared with daily functioning in an observational study: control group.Setting/Participants: Community-dwelling persons aged ≥75 years with daily activity limitations enlisted in 83 general practices (n = 155).Interventions: Both intervention groups (FTE, n = 76 and PPT, n = 79) received individual, 30 min treatments. The control group (n = 228) did not get any experimental intervention offered.Measurements: Groningen Activities of Daily Living Restriction Scale (GARS).Statistical analyses: Linear Mixed Model analysis, correcting for age, sex, baseline scores and clustering by physiotherapist were used to compare the different groups.ResultsAt baseline, 74% percent of the intervention trial group was female vs 79% in the control group. Median ages were 83.9 and 84.7 respectively.The median baseline GARS-score for the control group was 41.0 (25 and 75 percentile): 35.0; 48.0) and 40.0 (25 and 75 percentile: 32.3; 46.0) for the intervention group (FTE + PPT). The mean change over time was 3.3 (2.5; 4.1) for the control group. Mean difference in change over time between the intervention (FTE + PPT) and the control group was − 2.5 (− 4.3; − 0.6) (p = .009).Between FTE and PPT the difference in change was − 0.4 (95% CI: -2.3; 3.0, p = 0.795).ConclusionAn exercise intervention led by physiotherapists may slow down decline in self-reported daily functioning in older persons with daily activity limitations, identified by pro-active case finding.Trial registrationNetherlands trial register (NTR2407). Registered 6th of July 2010.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12877-018-0859-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ObjectiveEven though the prevalence of mental disorders and social problems is high among elderly patients, it is difficult to detect these in a primary (home) care setting. Goal was the development and preliminary validation of a short observation list to detect six problem areas: anxiety, depression, cognition, suspicion, loneliness, and somatisation.MethodsA draft list of indicators identified from a short review of the literature and the opinions of 22 experts was evaluated by general practitioners (GPs) and home care organisations for feasibility. It was then used by GPs and home care personnel to observe patients, who also completed validated tests for psychological disorders (General Health Questionnaire 12 item version (GHQ‐12)), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale 15‐item version (GDS‐15)), anxiety and suspicion (Symptom Checklist‐90 (SCL‐90)), loneliness (University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)), somatisation (Illness Attitude Scale (IAS)), and cognition (Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE)).ResultsGPs and home care personnel observed 180 patients (mean age 78.4 years; 66% female) and evaluated the draft list during a regular visit. Cronbach's α was 0.87 for the draft list and ≥0.80 for the draft problem areas (loneliness and suspicion excepted). Principal component analysis identified six components (cognition, depression + loneliness, somatisation, anxiety + suspicion, depression (other signs), and an ambiguous component). Convergent validity was shown for the indicators list as a whole (using the GHQ‐12), and the subscales of depression, anxiety, loneliness, cognition, and somatisation. Using pre‐set agreed criteria, the list was reduced to 14 final indicators divided over five problem areas.ConclusionThe Observation List for mental disorders and social Problems (OLP) proved to be preliminarily valid, reliable, and feasible for use in primary and home care settings. Copyright © John Wliey & Sons, Ltd.