Effects of medical care and nursing service integration on self-care agency in disabled elders of community

Abstract

Objective To investigate the self-care agency in disabled elders of community and to explore effects of medical care and nursing service integration on self-care agency in disabled elders with different degrees of disability in community. Methods We traced and investigated a total of 42 disabled elders signed medical care and nursing service integration with a community. The self-care agency was compared with the Chinese Version of the Self-care Ability Scale for the Elderly (SASE-CHI) before and six months after service objects accepting services. Results The average of self-care ability of community disabled elders was (48.69±12.11) with a low level. Six months after accepting medical care and nursing service integration, the score of self-care ability of disabled elders increased along with (53.07±8.68) in total score of self-care ability, (21.38±3.76) in objective dimension and (25.62±4.39) in skill dimension. There were significant differences in scores of self-care ability compared before and after accepting service (t=-2.346, -2.592, -2.731; P 0.05) . The total score of self-care ability and score of skill dimension increased in elders with moderate and severe ability after accepting services, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusions The self-care ability of community disabled elders is in a low level. The medical care and nursing service integration can improve self-care ability of community disabled elders. However, there is great room to upgrade. Key words: Self care; Community care; Disabled elderly; Medical care and nursing service integration