Functional limitation among older adults in a rural area in South Kerala and its associated factors

Background: A person is said to have a functional limitation when he/she does not have the physical or cognitive ability to independently perform the routine activities of daily living. If recognized at an early stage, these can often be improved greatly, helping them regain their functional abilities and independence. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of functional limitations among older adults in a rural area in south Kerala. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among older adults residing in the field practice area of a rural health training center of a medical college in south Kerala for 3 months from October 2019 to December 2019. Data were collected by interview of the participants by the investigator. The modified Barthel Index for activities of daily living was used to determine the prevalence of functional limitations. Results: The overall prevalence of functional limitations among older adults in a rural area in south Kerala was 35.9%. The most common functional limitation experienced by the participants was difficulty in climbing stairs. Functional limitation was found to be significantly associated with the age, socioeconomic status, and type of family of the participants. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to focus on the functional limitation among older adults, especially among the oldest old and those in lower socioeconomic status with emphasis on the need to strengthen the health-care facilities for them, with respect to early identification and management of their functional limitations.