OBJECTIVE: We conducted a longitudinal study using Functional Independence Measures to clarify factor related to independence of activities of daily living of elderly receiving in-home service under the long-term care insurance systemMETHODS: Fifty-four elderly users of the in-home service of Ibaraki Prefecture assented to participate in this study and were analyzed. A researcher conducted survey at the baseline and after follow-up by visiting the elderly at each home. The evaluation standards used here were the Japanese version of Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15).RESULTS: The FIM score (mean+/-SD) was decreased 83.6+/-36.4 to 81.7+/-37.4 during the 112+/-22.2 day follow up period. Thirty-nine elderly demonstrated improvement or no change in FIM and 15 had declining scores. To clarify independent factors related to FIM change, we conducted a step-wise multifactor logistic regression analysis, and the results suggested importance for "in-home service availability" and "home care period less than one year".CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that it is important for maintenance or improvement of ADL in home care elderly to provide sufficient home .care services from the beginning under the long-term care insurance system.
Activities of Daily Living Aged