Prevalence and Associated Factors of Functional Disability in Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities among Institutionalized Tunisian Elderly

Aim: We conducted this study to assess the functional disability of institutionalized elders and to identify its associated factors.

Place and Duration of the Study: This study was conducted during a period of 3 months from the first January to 31 March 2015 in the long-stay institutions of older persons in the region of the Tunisian Center.

Type of the Study: It is a cross sectional study.

Methodology: This study conducted among 110 Tunisian insutionalized elderly to assess the functional disability using the Katz Index of disability in Activities of Daily Living and the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale.

Results: Among the institutionalized elderly, 57.3% were ADL dependent and 85.4% were IADL dependent. In the multivariate analysis, female gender, age, self-perceived health status, motor disability and cognitive deficit were independent factors associated with ADL disability among institutionalized elderly. Independent factors associated with IADL disability were female gender, age, having friends outside the institution, having visits and receiving a family financial support.

Conclusion: Disability is affected by a number of non-modifiable and modifiable predisposing factors which should be the most targets of preventive interventions.