Assessment of Basic-instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Related Factors in Individuals Aged 80 and Over

Aktiviteleri ve İlişkili Faktörlerin DeğerlendirilmesiObjective: Chronic diseases, frailty, and external dependence may increase in elderly age.Therefore, age-specific assessment methods have been developed for the elderly.The aim of this manuscript is to investigate the cognitive status, daily living and instrumental daily living situations, and nutritional characteristics of individuals who can be included in the middle-aged and elderly age groups, and to determine their similarities and differences with other age groups. Material and Methods:In this study, data from 222 participants aged 80-99 were retrospectively examined.The sociodemographic data, cognitive status, basic and instrumental daily living activities, and nutrition of participants were evaluated using the Mini Mental State test (MMST), Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale, and Mini Nutritional Assessment test.Results: The average age of the participants was 84.07, and 61.71% were female.The majority had comorbidities, with an average daily medication use of 4.27.The most common diseases are hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, gonarthrosis, and lumbar disc herniation.Participants scored an average of 5.58 out of 6 on the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, an average of 6.90 out of 8 on the Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale, an average of 25.73 out of 30 on the MMST and an average of 11.99 out of 14 on the Mini Nutritional Assessment test.The success of the participants was influenced by age, gender, educational status, number of medications used and existing chronic diseases.Conclusion: It should be noted that dependence increases, especially in individuals aged 80 and over, all basic and instrumental activities of daily living decrease, and compliance with the treatments to be given may decrease as a result.Assessing elderly adults using valid and reliable short scales can provide a more objective description of their health status.