Health-Related Counseling of Elderly People in the Domestic Setting

Abstract

Introduction: In accordance with the wish of elderly people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible, appropriate consideration should be granted to the promotion of elderly people’s independence from a social and health-political viewpoint. Aim: The aim was to assess the functional health of elderly people living at home and thus, based on individual problem areas and resources, the need for provision of health-related counseling. Method: In the framework of an exploratory cross-sectional study, entitled “Preventive Senior Counseling in Tyrol”, a multidimensional nursing assessment through self-reporting was performed on 345 people aged 70+. Derived from the individual assessed problem areas and resources, the registered nurses decided which of the recommended and standardized 14 counseling topics were relevant for the individual participants. Results: Initially, the sample of elderly people was analyzed in relation to their belonging to one of four functional health-related risk groups (e.g. risk of falls etc.). Many people – irrelevant if they belonged to any of the risk groups or none at all - showed a high degree of independence as well as a multitude of health-related impairments. All of these findings highlighted a pronounced need for counseling, although on different topics. Discussion: The preventive home visit, as offered here, was used as a counseling instrument for elderly people in the domestic setting. A serious need for counseling on issues that support independent living at home derives from the nursing assessment of the participants’ problem areas and resources.