ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aims to examine the need for home-based rehabilitation services for elderly arthritis patients with different levels of ADL, and to use the results for developing home-based rehabilitation service models and health and welfare related policies. Method: Home-stay patients registered with one of three welfare centers or one senior daycare center in Daejeon were studied. A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed, and 110 were collected by their therapists. Among them, 79 questionnaires with high response rates were analyzed. The questionnaires consisted of i) ten questions to ascertain the need for home-based rehabilitation services, ii) a WOMAC to evaluate the subjects' severity of arthritis, and iii) an MBI. The WOMAC divided the ADLs of the 79 subjects into three classes. Results: Most of the patients studied (79.2%) had degenerative arthritis. The largest percent suffered from constant pain in their knees. They were not well aware of home-based rehabilitation services, but 74 (93.7%) stated that they needed such services: 15 (19.0%) in the first class, 44 (55.7%) in the second class, and 15 (19.0%) in the third class. Conclusion: This study showed that elderly arthritis patients staying at home have a high demand for homebased rehabilitation services. With an increasingly aging society, providing such services will enable elderly patients to avoid the discomfort of visiting hospitals and enhance their quality of life through regular rehabilitation treatments at home.