Parental health literacy in rural Uganda: a qualitative exploratory study

Abstract

Purpose: For the past 10 years, community-dwelling the elderly have attended a monthly Preventive Long-Term Care program. The program mainly includes gymnastics and Thera-Band exercises for a duration of approximately 1 h. Furthermore, participants undergo a physical fitness test once a year. This study aimed to investigate changes inmotor function in the elderly who attended the program continuously for several years. Methods: The study included 8 subjects (5 females, 3 males), who had attended the program for more than 3 years, had undergone a physical fitness test at least three times and were older than 70 years. Two subjects had mild hemiplegia. Changes in motor function were evaluated by assessing oneleg balancing with open eyes, sitting stepping, grip strength, vertical jump and fast walking speed. Results: The age at the time of the first physical assessment was 74 years for 3 subjects, 75 years for 2 subjects, 76 years for 1 subject and 80 years for 2 subjects. The duration between the first and final assessments was 3–5 years for 4 subjects and 8–10 years for 4 subjects. During this period, the frequency of attendance at the program varied. At the initial measurement, there was a clear difference in the functional level of each parameter among the subjects. However, over time, regardless of the differences in the initial functional level, the subjects had the same level of motor function. At the last measurement, all subjects were independent in activities of daily living and had encountered no problem during social participation activities in the region. Conclusion(s): Regardless of their initial level of motor function, continued participation in the Preventive LongTerm Care program ensured the elderly maintained the same level of motor function over time. Even after temporary interruptions in attendance, there was a high motivation to return, which contributed to continued maintenance of the motor function level. Implications: To ensure a healthy life in the elderly, a high level of motor function is important. However, even in the independent elderly with a low level of motor function, that level of function can bemaintained through participation in programs such as the Preventive Long-TermCare program.