Promote social participation among older persons by identifying physical challenges – An important aspect of preventive home visits

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate acceptance of preventive home visits (PHVs) for older adults in rural Germany.DesignQualitative descriptive approach.SampleWe investigated the personal, individual perspective of adults aged 65 to 85, who were not yet eligible for benefits from the long‐term care insurance, were able to understand and speak German, and who lived in the municipality under study.MeasurementsFifteen semi‐structured interviews were conducted between 02/2019 and 08/2020. They were transcribed, coded using MAXQDA, and content analyzed. Ethical approval was obtained.ResultsThe acceptance of PHVs was extremely high and characterized by five main effects: very close relationship with the nurse, well‐being, empowerment, satisfaction, ambivalence. Participants wish to receive PHVs in the future and would recommend it to others. Even those with a healthy or health‐promoting lifestyle are thankful to be able to refer to the counselling sessions if life circumstances should deteriorate. Those who became care‐dependent wish to continue and perceive it as a valuable addition to their care.ConclusionFrom the participants’ point of view, this low‐threshold counselling‐and‐support approach should be maintained in the future. PHVs can support health and independence in older adults and therefore prevent them from becoming care‐dependent.

show abstract

“…Nivestam et al. (2021) confirm this effect. Becoming empowered and recognized as a person was experienced as the greatest benefit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Content analysis was performed according to Mayring (2015) and included inductive category development. Accordingly, the categories constructed from the empirical material were able to be identified.…”

Section: Analytic Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptance of preventive home visits by nurses – The user perspective

Blotenberg

Seeling

Büscher

2023

Public Health Nursing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…If the use of care services with PHVs increases, this may reflect a finding that an existing need is being met [11]. Physical problems, such as having urinary incontinence (women only), having pain (Cases 2 and 4), impaired endurance and using a mobility device (Case 2), make social participation more difficult T A B L E 2 (Continued) [29]. These problems were also experienced by those study participants who became care-dependent.…”

Section: Effects On the Phsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The health‐related quality of life of older people through preventive home visits: A quantitative longitudinal study

Blotenberg

Seeling

Büscher

2023

Scandinavian Caring Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aims and Objectives: Preventive home visits are a low-threshold counselling and support approach. They have been reported to achieve heterogeneous effects. However, preventive home visits have the potential to reduce the risk of becoming dependent on long-term care. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of preventive home visits as a nursing intervention on health-related quality of life of older people in a longitudinal survey and to develop recommendations for which target groups preventive home visits have the highest benefit. The sample consisted of 75 people, aged between 65 and 85, who were able to understand and speak German,had not yet been eligible for benefits from the long-term care insurance and lived in the municipality under study. Methodological Design and Justification:A quantitative longitudinal study in order to investigate the effects of preventive home visits. Ethical Issues and Approval:There were no ethical concerns. Accordingly, ethical approval was granted. Research Methods, Results and Conclusions:The health-related quality of life was recorded four times between 01/2017 and 08/2020 with the Short-Form-Health-Survey-12 and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results reveal that the physical health status cannot be easily influenced over a short period of time. The main effect, however, is that preventive home visits have a significant positive effect on the mental health status. The main topics during the home visits were mobility, nutrition and social participation. Increased knowledge and motivation for preventive behaviour extended the autonomy of older people. Accordingly, preventive home visits can support a self-determined life in a familiar environment. The results of the present study show that preventive home visits as a nursing intervention in rural areas are successful. In Germany, preventive home visits have not yet been implemented on a regular basis. In order to do so, a general definition of the concept is needed. Preventive home visits should be officially included in the regular health care services in Germany.

show abstract

“…Mobility is a prerequisite for the vast majority of everyday activities, and being able to move around outdoors contributes to societal participation [ 1 , 2 ], and is known to reduce depression and social stigma [ 3 ]. Increasing age is associated with physical activity limitations due to illness, injury or general age-related health decline [ 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gait parameters when walking with or without rollator on different surface characteristics: a pilot study among healthy individuals

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives Gait parameters can measure risks of falling and mortality and identify early stages of frailty. The use of walking aid changes gait parameters. The aim of this study was to describe differences in gait parameters among healthy adults when walking on different surfaces and under different conditions, with and without a rollator. Results Ten healthy participants walked first without and then with a rollator upslope, downslope and on flat surface, on bitumen and gravel respectively. Step length, walking speed and sideway deviation was measured using an inertial measurement unit. Walking up a slope using a rollator generated the longest step length and walking down a slope using a rollator the shortest. Fastest walking speed was used when walking up a slope with rollator and slowest when walking down a slope with rollator. Sideway deviation was highest when walking down a slope and lowest when walking on gravel, both without rollator. Highest walk ratio was found when walk up a slope without rollator and lowest when walking down a slope with rollator. Data from this study provides valuable knowledge regarding gait parameters among healthy individuals, useful for future clinical research relevant for rehabilitation and public health.

show abstract

Promote social participation among older persons by identifying physical challenges – An important aspect of preventive home visits

Cited by 12 publications

References 29 publications

Acceptance of preventive home visits by nurses – The user perspective

Acceptance of preventive home visits by nurses – The user perspective

The health‐related quality of life of older people through preventive home visits: A quantitative longitudinal study

Gait parameters when walking with or without rollator on different surface characteristics: a pilot study among healthy individuals

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About