Engagement of Older Adults in out-of-Home Occupations: Transitioning from Hospital to Home

Abstract

Aims

Transition Care Programs support older adults to return home post hospital admission. This study explored the experiences of older adults who identified therapy goals relating to out-of-home occupations.

Methods

In this convergent mixed methods study, we assessed 10 older adults using the Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment and the Life-space Questionnaire, followed by in-depth interviews to explore out-of-home occupational engagement.

Results

Participants described continued engagement in out-of-home occupations, albeit adapted due to their changing health. They reported experiencing an ongoing health and occupational journey which required them to actively consider barriers and enablers to their occupational engagement. These adults were skilled in analyzing their own performance and engagement in out-of-home occupations.

Conclusion

Older adults make progressive adaptations to maintain their occupational engagement. They are experts in analyzing enablers and barriers for out-of-home occupations and should be proactively invited to share their expertise during therapy.

Keywords:

• Aged
• goals and objectives
• health services for the aged
• occupational therapy

Acknowledgements

The researchers acknowledge the participants who voluntarily agreed to take part in this study, as well as the numerous friends and family members of these participants who supported that involvement.

Disclosure statement

The authors confirm that there is no conflict of interests.

Ethics

Ethics approval was obtained from the following committees and boards:

• Metro South Human Research Ethics Committee. Reference no: HREC/17/QPAH/806

• Queensland Government Public Health Act Application. Reference no: RD007257

• Metro South Research Governance. Reference no: SSA/17/QPAH/807

• Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee. Reference no: GU2018/092

Additional information

Funding

The first author received $1,000 of funding through Griffith University. This money was used to cover the costs of interview transcription.