Influencing Perception of Frailty Risk in Urban and Rural Older Adults

Abstract

Aims

To investigate the effect of frailty education on the perception of frailty risk for urban and rural older adults.

Methods

Forty adults completed a frailty perception survey, the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), and participated in a 6-week frailty intervention program.

Results

Urban older adults increased knowledge of frailty including identification of frailty risk (.0035, p < .05), importance of good nutrition as we age (.0015, p < .05) and confidence in accessing community resources (.000031, p < .05). Aggregate site results showed increased accessibility to frailty education including risk of frailty (2.24576E-12, p < .05), frailty criteria (3.29825E-12, p < .05), and reduction of frailty risk (1.21856E-09, p < .05) for rural and urban older adults. Fall prevention knowledge improved at both Urban and Rural A sites (.00021, p < .05).

Conclusions

The frailty education provided to urban and rural community dwelling older adults supported a change in the perceptions of frailty risk after participation in the program.

Keywords:

• Frailty
• perception
• aging
• health education
• health literacy
• occupational therapy

Acknowledgements

Appreciation is given to all the participants, and occupational therapists involved in these studies. Special acknowledgement is given to Dr. Ingrid Provident, Dr. Jennifer Lape, Dr. Elizabeth Fain, Dr. Kayla Smith, and Dr. Barbara Doucet.

Disclosure statement of conflicting interests

The author declares no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.