Purpose: This study was conducted with the purpose of exploring the effect of exercise, cognition and education programs on physical functions, cognitive functions, depression, independent functions, nutritional status targeting the community elderly with chronic diseases who use home health care.
Method: Targeting 20 senior citizens with chronic diseases who use home health care, 12 sessions of exercise, cognition and education program were conducted. Physical functions, cognitive functions, depression, independent functions, nutritional status of the subjects were identified through pre- and post- assessments. The collected data were analyzed using paired t-test.
Results: After conducting the exercise, cognition and education program, in physiological characteristics, BMI decreased (p=.001). In the physical functions, OLST with eyes open increased (p=.021). There were statistically significant differences in this result. TUG walking speed improved (p=.165), however, there was no statistically significant difference. Grip strength and OLST with eyes closed decreased slightly (p=.460, p=.925). Scores on cognitive functions improved (p=.004) and there were statistically significant differences. In independence functions, there was no change in K-ADL, and scores of K-IADL decreased (p=.330). IPAQ is ot increased (p=.208), but statisticaily meaningful difference inthe Kcal. Frailty the score has improved (p=.666) Depression level was decreased (p=.823), Scores on nutritional status decreased (p=.742)
Conclusions: The study found that applying exercise, cognition and education programs to the community elderly with chronic diseases using home health care was effective for improving physical functions, cognitive functions. Based on the study, it is considered that it would be helpful for chronic disease management and dementia prevention to utilize the programs for the elderly with chronic diseases in community centers and welfare facilities where the accessibility of the community is frequent. It is also expected that the findings of this study can be the basic data for implementing programs for the community elderly with chronic diseases in the future.