Abstract
Frailty affects rates of hospital readmission, transition to assisted care, decreased life satisfaction, and decreased life span. Participation in an OT frailty risk reduction program can influence perception of frailty for rural and urban older adults.
Primary Author and Speaker: Susan B. Blair
Investigated impact of frailty education on perception of frailty for urban/rural older adults. Multi-site study of 3 ethnically/regionally diverse groups of older adults who participated in OT community education. Multi-method approach with quantitative, qualitative, and descriptive data in the form of pre- and post-intervention measures. Examined changes in perception of frailty, the impact of frailty on functional performance, and themes of frailty identification. Pre/post-intervention data for Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) & Timed Up and Go used paired t-tests. Comparison of the pre/post intervention frailty perception surveys (Likert scale) examined for frailty perception change . Qualitative/thematic analysis - Braun and Clarke approach. Study proposed that frailty education could influence the perception of frailty for rural/urban older adults. Education, self-examination of perceptions, and provision of home-based physical activities promoted healthy aging and impacted perception of frailty with significant results (Apostolo et al., 2018). Urban older adults increased frailty risk knowledge/nutrition choices as they aged/confidence accessing resources. African American participants had highest EFS risk of frailty and an aggregate increase of 5% in frailty risk perception post-intervention. Aggregate site results with increased accessibility to frailty education for frailty criteria, and reduction of frailty risk for participants. Knowledge of fall prevention improved at 2/3 sites. OT has role in assessment/ intervention/education of older adults who wish to age successfully. Community education should be sustainable through the provision of frailty educational classes to older adults at risk of frailty. Improving healthcare for traditionally underserved, disadvantaged minority populations who were at higher risk for frailty because of limited access to resources/prevalence of increased rates of chronic co-morbidities could be expected (Grines, et al., 2021).
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Grines CL, Klein AJ, Bauser-Heaton H, et al. Racial and ethnic disparities in coronary, vascular, structural, and congenital heart disease. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2021;98(2):277-294. https://doi.org/10.1002/ccd.29745