Factors contributing to functional dependence among older adults in Ile–Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Old age presents myriads of challenges particularly in the dimension of dependence in the performance of activities of daily living and those contributing to maintenance of health. This study therefore, assessed factors contributing to functional dependence among older adults attending care in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital.A cross-sectional correlational design was employed to study 400 respondents 60 years and above attending care in the hospital. Data regarding the respondents’ sociodemographic attributes, their degree of dependence in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) as well as health maintenance practices were collected with a validated interviewer-administered questionnaire and were analysed descriptively and inferentially using Stata 12 statistical package.Results revealed that almost a quarter (24.5%) of the respondents were dependent (moderate) on others in all the dimensions of IADLs measured, while majority (83.0%) had moderate health maintenance practices. Furthermore, respondents age (Β = −0.124, p < 0.001), health maintenance practice (Β = 0.180, p < 0.001) sex (Β = 1.181, p < 0.001), Income level (Β = 0.551, p < 0.001), level of education (Β = 0.723, p < 0.001) significantly predicted functional dependence among the older adults.In conclusion, this study showed that functional dependence is prevalent among the residents in this setting. Therefore, there is a need for nurses to carry out a periodic health assessment among the older adults and also educate the general geriatric cohort on the need to scale up the performance of health maintenance practices which will in turn increase their functional capacity and promote better quality of life.

Keywords

• Functional dependence
• Health maintenance practices
• Instrumental activities of daily living
• Older adults