The concept of disability and its causal mechanisms in older people over time from a theoretical perspective: a literature review

Abstract

Ageing with a disability increases the risk of hospitalization and nursing home admission. Ageing in place interventions aiming to reduce disability are often not sufficiently effective and inadequately theory-based. There are many models available on disability, but it is unclear how they define disability, what their differences are, and how they evolved throughout the years. This paper aims to provide an overview of the evolution of these models and to elaborate on the causal mechanisms of disability. A literature review was conducted as part of the TRANS-SENIOR international training and research network. PubMed and Google Scholar were searched, and snowball sampling was applied to eligible publications. Data were extracted from the included publications, and a thematic analysis was performed on the retrieved data. Overall, 29 publications were included in the final sample. All included models arose from three original models and could be divided into two types: linear models and models on the interaction between the person and the environment. Thematic analysis led to three distinct evolutionary trends: (1) from a unidirectional linear path to a multidirectional nonlinear path, (2) from the consequences of disease towards the consequences of person–environment interaction, and (3) from disability towards health and functioning. Our findings suggest that by optimizing the use of personal as well as environmental resources, and focusing on health and functioning, rather than disability, an older person’s independence and wellbeing can be improved, especially while performing meaningful daily activities in accordance with the person’s needs and preferences.

Development and content of a community-based reablement programme (I-MANAGE): a co-creation study

“…A strength of I-MANAGE and its development is that it is both theory and evidence-based,42 43 which has proven to be advantageous when developing effective interventions 64 65. Moreover, Thuesen et al 66 highlight the demand for making theory explicit in reablement interventions and in addressing the physical, psychological and sociocultural perspectives of ageing within these interventions.…”

“…The methodology and results of this literature research is described elsewhere 42. To identify a theoretical foundation for the programme (step 3), a literature review was performed on the concept of disability and its underlying causal mechanisms 43…”

Functional Capacity and Difficulties in Activities of Daily Living From a Cross-National Perspective

“…Older adults in northern countries receive more formal and less informal care compared to continental and southern Europe ( Brenna & Di Novi, 2016 ), and also live alone more often ( Mudrazija et al, 2020 ). A supportive environment does not only mean built but also the social environment, such as a support network ( Mouchaers et al., 2022 ). It is possible that in northern countries, older adults receive less social support from family and informal care givers and therefore the development of difficulties is more determined by an individual’s own functional capacity.…”

Living in a segregated community? Interaction between families and service organizations supporting people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…When applying the bioecological model to disabilities studies, including an adaption of the bioecological model—the competence–environmental press model ( Lawton, 1999 ), the various systems in the environment may cause different types of adaptive behavior of individuals, which correspond to their ability to accommodate changes. Hence, an optimal fit between the individual and their environment is imperative for him or her to function adequately in this specific environment ( Mouchaers et al, 2022 ).…”