Abstract

AIMS: Multidisciplinary gerontological rehabilitation is intended to maintain functioning and enhance the independence and meaningful living of older inhabitants in home settings and their participation in society. Therefore promoting quality of life (QoL) and functional capacity is the central aim of the rehabilitation of elderly people. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in QoL, pain and functional capacity among the participants of rehabilitation courses. Intervention was targeted to elderly whose coping at home was threatened because of decreasing functional capacity due to muscular-skeletal disease.

METHODS: 376 elderly community-dwelling persons participated in an out or inpatient rehabilitation programs which consisted mainly of group sessions. Six service providers offered all together 60 rehabilitation courses each for maximum of 8 participants. The length of each rehabilitation course was 12 months. The mean age was 79,5 years. 174 persons participated in an outpatient program and 162 in an inpatient program. QoL was evaluated by using WHO-QOL BREF, pain was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and functional capacity was clinically measured by using Short Physical Performance Battery index. Both QoL and physical performance were measured at baseline and after 6 months. Statistical significance was measured by using t-tests. A significance level p.

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