ABSTRACT Background Older adults may experience changes in activities of daily living (ADL) after completing home‐based rehabilitation; however, no evidence exists regarding post‐rehabilitation outcomes and the factors influencing long‐term changes in ADL. This study aimed to investigate changes in ADL in older adults following home‐based rehabilitation and identify factors associated with these changes. Methods This multicenter prospective cohort study included older adults aged ≥ 65 years who had completed home‐based rehabilitation. We assessed ADL at the completion of rehabilitation and 6 months later. Subsequently, we used multiple regression analysis to examine factors associated with changes in ADL. Results In total, 49 participants were included in the analysis. Six months after home‐based rehabilitation, ADL improved or was maintained in 38 participants (77.6%), and declined in only 11 participants (22.4%) compared with those immediately after home‐based rehabilitation. Multiple regression analysis showed that lower cognitive function was significantly associated with a decline in ADL at 6 months after home‐based rehabilitation ( β = −0.387, p = 0.005). Conclusions Continued monitoring and support for older adults with lower cognitive function after completing home‐based rehabilitation may be necessary to prevent declines in ADL.
Kawada et al. (Fri,) studied this question.