Functional capacity in the elderly initially and after the third month of institutionalization.

Abstract

Objective: To study the functional ability, cognitive status, frailty, depression and psycho- motor performance of older adults when they are admitted to a nursing home and after residing in the nursing home for 3 months. Methodology: Longitudinal, descriptive and comparative study. 37 people (86.5 ± 5.7 years old) living in nursing homes for less than one month were recruited in the Alentejo re- gion. Data were collected during the first month of institutionalization and after three months of the initial evaluation. Results: When the participants entered in the institutions, ~83% were classified as frail, ~75% had probable depression, ~62% had some level of dependence on the activities of daily living, and ~25% had cognitive deficits. During the first three months of institutio- nalization, the level of functionality decreased, but the values of frailty and depression improved. There were no significant changes in cognitive status and psychomotor perfor- mance during this time. Conclusions: When older adults become institutionalized, they tend to show several dif- ficulties in various domains related to their health and quality of life. Despite the diffe- rent changes found in the variables investigated, in general, the first three months of ins- titutionalization did not have a negative impact on the participants. Probably, this outco- me is related to the characteristics of nursing homes. Descriptors: Institutionalization; aging; frailness; psychomotor performance; depression; cognitive dysfunction.