Cognitive Function and Activity of Daily Living of Older Adults Using Long-term Care Service

The purpose of this study was to analyze the level of the cognitive function and activities of daily living of the beneficiary older adults at home based on Korean Long-term Care Insurance System. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted from November 2010 to May 2011, the final respondents were 1,026 beneficiary older adults taking home visit care covered in Korean long-term care insurance system. The questionnaire included general characteristics of subjects, cognitive function, ADL(Activity of daily living). The data was analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 version. There was significant difference in cognitive function and ADL between 1st Grade, 2nd Grade and 3rd Grade of long-term care classification. The correlated factors of cognitive function were ADL, long-term care grade, disability of arm and leg, limitation of joint, bed sore and tube feeding. The correlated factors of ADL were cognitive function, long-term care grade, disability of arm and leg, bed sore and tube feeding. This study suggests that cognitive functions have to be mainly considered in long-term care grade. It is necessary to make an effort to develop long-term care grade in Korean long-term care insurance system an cognitive function improvement program for the beneficiary older adults. Above all things government will be seriously contemplating of revise contents for long-term care grade to provide quality of care for the older adults.