The Effect of Community-based Reablement in Remote Areas

This study aims o investigate the effect of a diversified community-based reablement on motor function, cognitive function, performance in activities of daily living (ADL), and physical performance of older people living in remote areas. Older adults who are mobile but unstable were recruited from 6 public elderly day care centers in remote areas of the New Taipei City. Experimental group received a 10-wk diversified community-based reablement service including group exercise, cognitive training, health education for 1.5 hours, and individualized reablement for 1.0 hour, while control group received 1.5-hr group intervention and 1.0-hr placebo intervention. The de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI), Saint Louis Mental Status Examination (SLUMS), Barthel Index (BI), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) including balance, gait speed, chair stand tests were evaluated twice before and after interventions. The results of the current study are expected to provide evidence in supporting a novel and diversified community-based reablement in remote areas.