Functional performance in a group of elderlies

Abstract

Introduction: Functional capacity is one of the determinants of the health status of the elderly. This population is characterized by greater dependence, which leads to significant changes in lifestyles, as well as in social and family interaction. Objective: To establish the level of functional performance in a group of elderlies aged more than 60 years from the city of Pasto. Methods: Quantitative study, with a descriptive and cross-sectional level. We evaluated 426 elderlies with a focused on their sociodemographic characteristics and performance of basic and instrumental daily life activities, through the application of the Barthel Index and the Lawton and Brody Scale. For the statistical analysis, we used the SPSS package version 2.0. Results: A greater level of functionality was observed for basic activities of daily life, with a significant association in age. While instrumental activities determined significant relationships in age and sex. Conclusions: With the aging process, functional capacity is conditioned, mainly at the level of instrumental activities of daily life. In the same way, the variables age and gender are significantly associated with the functional component. © 2018, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.