![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Purpose: To identify demographic, physical and psychosocial determinants associated with participation in daily activities of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional design of older adults (≥70 years) from Victoria, Australia, residing in their homes was drawn from a convenience sample. The outcomes were recent participation in household and recreational activities as measured by the Phone-FITT. Explanatory variables included demographics, physical and mental health functioning (Short Form-12 version 2, Geriatric Depression Scale 15). Associations were analyzed through linear regression. Results: There were 244 participants (60% female), with a mean age of 77.5 years (SD 5.7). Higher levels of depression and fewer falls (during the previous year) were independently associated with restrictions in household participation (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). For recreational participation, higher levels of depression were associated with restricted participation (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Screening for depression should be a key component of health assessments with older adults. Untreated depression may lead to lower participation rates in daily activities potentially resulting in social isolation. Fewer falls and restricted household participation were associated, but no association was observed between falls and recreational participation. Further studies are required to explore this association in more detail.
Depression is significantly correlated with the level of participation in daily activities for older adults.
Health professionals need to screen for depression when working with older adults.
Implications for Rehabilitation
Acknowledgements
Professor Keith Hill (Deakin University) and Professor Caroline Finch (University of Ballarat) are chief investigators on the NHMRC Partnership Project from which this work arose and contributed to its broad conceptual basis.
Declaration of interest
Terry Haines is the director of Hospital Falls Prevention Solutions Pty Ltd, a company that trains hospital staff in methods to prevent in-hospital falls. He has provided expert witness testimony on this subject to Minter Ellison Law Firm, and has received payment for speaking on this subject at conferences. The other authors report no declarations of interest.