Rehabilitation Nursing Strategies for Older Adults with Frailty: a Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction

Population aging, the prevalence of comorbidities, polypharmacy, dependence in activities of daily living, and the progressive impoverishment of many people, among other factors, have made frailty a public health concern. Implementing rehabilitation programs that can help manage or mitigate this problem is essential.

Objective

To analyze the perceptions of specialist nurses in rehabilitation nursing regarding rehabilitation programs for older adults with frailty.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study within an interpretivist paradigm. Participants were 11 specialist nurses in rehabilitation nursing with professional experience implementing community-based rehabilitation programs for older adults with frailty. Participants completed written narratives, and we analyzed the data using content analysis following Bardin’s framework.

Results

The analysis identified strategies involving physical, cognitive, and social stimulation; empowerment; patient education and skills training; health education; mobilization; and enhancement of adaptive capacity. Exercise programs included motor and respiratory training, activities-of-daily-living training, swallowing training, and toileting training. Participants associated these programs with patient satisfaction, health promotion, prevention of complications, well-being, self-care, fewer hospital admissions, and lower health care costs.

Conclusion

Rehabilitation nurses recognized the importance of tailoring rehabilitation programs to older adults with frailty and reported perceived health benefits that they considered indicative of the quality of specialized rehabilitation nursing care.