Abstract

IMAGINARIO, Cristina et al. Activities of daily living as cognitive state predictors for the institutionalized elderly. Revista Portuguesa de Enfermagem de Saúde Mental [online]. 2017, n.18, pp.37-43. ISSN 1647-2160.  https://doi.org/10.19131/rpesm.0190.

BACKGROUND: This study was based on the notion that preserving basic and instrumental activities of daily living can help the institutionalized elderly enhance and maintain their cognitive functions. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess if the functional capacity for activities of daily living can predict cognitive functions of the institutionalized elderly in assisted living residences. METHODS: A predictive transversal correlational study was carried out, using simple random sampling of 475 participants. Instruments:Mini-Mental State Examination (Guerreiro et al., 1994); Barthel’s index (Araújo, Ribeiro, Oliveira and Pinto, 2007) and Lawton & Brody’s scale (Araújo, Ribeiro, Oliveira, Pinto and Martins, 2008). RESULTS: The elderly in assisted living residences are primarily female, with ages ranging from 65 to 104 (M = 83,94, DP = 7,21), most of them widowed and illiterate. The model of multiple regression suggests that basic and instrumental activities of daily living explain approximately 49% of the existing variance in the mental state of the elderly. The instrumental activities of daily living were shown to be the most significant predictor, though the contribution of basic activities of daily living is also statistically significant for the model. CONCLUSIONS: The model suggests that these patients’ cognitive state can benefit from maintaining their activities of daily living. The elderly might preserve their autonomy in carrying out activities of daily living through social and motor stimulation interventions, which in turn can improve mental health, well-being and self-esteem.

Keywords : Basic activities of daily living; Instrumental activities of daily living; Cognitive state; Institutionalized elderly.

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