Effectiveness of a 12-Week Multifactorial Intervention in Improving Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adult: A Case Study.

Abstract

This case report presents a multifactorial intervention implemented by an occupational therapist during a 12-week program with specific goal set for a community-dwelling older adult in a frail condition. The participant was a 70-year-old underweight male who exhibited signs of frailty. He participated in individual sessions focused primarily on consultations for 90 min once a week over a three-month period. Changes in physical functions, as well as frailty-related assessments, were evaluated at the initial, mid-term, and final stages. The intervention involved collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to address exercise, nutrition, and social participation, with the long-term goal of "taking a train to visit family in the neighboring prefecture." The results indicated the program led to improvements in physical functions, including weight gain, improved results of walking test, and enhanced nutritional status, all of which contributed to a better frailty score. Additionally, there was an increase in social participation opportunities supporting the long-term goal. This study shows setting specific goal in participation level and multidisciplinary approach were important and a top-down approach by the occupational therapist indicated to be effective.