Comparison of Home Based Older Patients Who Received Occupational Therapy with Patients Not Receiving Occupational Therapy

The relationship of occupational therapy (OT) services to improvement in functional status for frail elders has not been firmly established. The present study explored the relationship of receipt of community-based services to changes in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Using a retrospective approach, two groups of older patients discharged from hospital, sub-acute and skilled nursing facility rehabilitation programs, or who were living in the community and qualified for home care services, were compared: one group received OT, the second group did not. The group that received OT demonstrated improved Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores in three areas (dressing, toileting and walking) while the group that did not receive OT did not show improvement.