Interventions to prevent disability in frail community-dwelling older persons: an overview

Abstract

This narrative review was conducted to provide an overview of the variety of interventions aimed at disability prevention in community-dwelling frail older persons and to summarize promising elements. The search strategy and selection process found 48 papers that met the inclusion criteria. The 49 interventions described in these 48 papers were categorized into 'comprehensive geriatric assessment', 'physical exercise', 'nutrition', 'technology', and 'other interventions'. There is a large diversity within and between the groups of interventions in terms of content, disciplines involved, duration, intensity, and setting. For 18 of the 49 interventions, significant positive effects for disability were reported for the experimental group. Promising features of interventions seem to be: multidisciplinary and multifactorial, individualized assessment and intervention, case management, long-term follow-up, physical exercise component (for moderate physically frail older persons), and the use of technology. Future intervention studies could combine these elements and consider the addition of new elements.

Studying Disability Trends in Aging Populations

“…Theses advancements in 'agefriendly' environments at home and neighborhoods have contributed to declines in disability (Daniels et al 2010). Freedman et al (2006) found that from 1992 to 2001, a large portion of the decline in numbers of older adults receiving help for ADL limitations was related to greater usage of assistive technology.…”

Older individuals' experiences during the assistive technology device service delivery process

“…Providing ATDs is one of many interventions occupational therapists use to rehabilitate older individuals and has the promise to be a cost-effective and constructive part of the solution to future health care challenges (3,(6)(7)(8)(9).…”

Exploring the meaning of a new assistive technology device for older individuals

“…Providing ATDs is one of the many interventions used in the rehabilitation of older individuals and is promising as a cost-effective and constructive method for solving future health care challenges [3][4][5][6][7]. Therefore, the provision of ATDs to individuals in need is publicly funded in Norway, and the municipalities are responsible for every aspect of the ATD delivery process [8].…”