Enhancing self care capabilities among a group of elderly home residents in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt

ABSTRACT

The number of persons aged 65 years and older is growing steadily all over the globe. Aging results in certain physiological changes that increase the probability of health problems. Elderly physical problems are manifested by decline in daily living activities, malnutrition, and incontinence. However, many of these problems can be prevented or lessened through using simple nursing interventions. The aims of the study were to assess daily living problems of the elderly home residents, assess their baseline daily living activities [DLA], identify factors affecting DLA, enhance DLA to solve daily living problems [DLP] among participants. The study was implemented in 3 phases. Phase one was a training phase for research assistants. Phase two was the baseline assessment phase. In phase three, the nursing intervention, follow up and evaluation were implemented. The results of the study showed that the nursing intervention was successful in enhancing self-care capabilities of elderly and solved the problems of incontinence among females, especially with mild cases. Problems of nutrition were not completely solved, because it requires different approaches