Assessing functional abilities among elderly in Ao Nang Krabi Province

Abstract

This study aims to assess functional abilities among the elderly in Aonang, and determine the factors associated with functional abilities, by interviewing all subjects during October to November 2003. Total population is 375 people, 45.9% are male and 54.1% are female. The age range averages from 60 to 97, with the average age 68 years old. It shows that the proportion of the physical disabilities which is total dependence in basic activities of daily living (BADL) was 0.3 percent and for instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was 3.2 percent. The proportion of dependent in one or more activities in BADL was 23.2 percent and for IADL was 29.9 percent .The factors associate with BADL (P<0.05) were age, education, literacy, inability to read, living status, period of care taking, working status, source of income and having disease with hemiplegia or immobility. The factors associate with IADL were age, literacy, inability to read, period of care taking, strength of the care taking from the relative, working status, source of income and problem with vision. The prevalence of dementia was 1.1 percent and also found in higher age, no education, literacy, inability to read, living alone, unlimited of care taking, out of work and having disease with hemiplegia. To promote health among elderly, many organizations should provide appropriate service such as improving health care team, supporting the community to promote exercise to all age, health check up at least one time per year and emphasize the members in family and community to take care the elderly especially those who were disability and dementia.