Function-focused care programme for older people in Korean long-term care facilities

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and test the effect of the Korean Function-Focused Care Programme (K-FFCP) on cognition and physical and psychological status in long-term care facilities' (LTCs) residents.

Design: A quasi-experimental repeated-measures design was used.

Methods: The K-FFCP was developed to maintain and maximise functions of older people in LTCs. After implementing the K-FFCP for six weeks, differences in the cognitive status, activities of daily living (ADL) performance, physical capability, grip strength, fear of falling, depression and anxiety status of the two groups were examined using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Patient outcomes were evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks after the intervention.

Results: In the experimental group, a significant group-time interaction effect was reported for ADL performance and depression.

Conclusion: The current findings provided evidence of its feasibility and indicated significant improvement in older people's functions using the K-FFCP. Although this study is a pilot test, these results may confirm the importance of the K-FFCP for the maintenance of ADL performance in older people in LTCs.

Keywords: activities of daily living; depression; facility; long-term care; nursing intervention.