Examining the Effects of Aging in Place on Quality of Life Compared to a Long-Term Care Facility: A Rapid Systematic Review

Abstract

As individuals age, they face impacted occupational performance which present as challenges performing activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) independently. This rapid systematic review seeks to investigate the effectiveness of existing occupational therapy (OT) interventions for older adults who are both aging in place and residing in long term care facilities through examining the evidence of 29 studies. Occupational therapy interventions investigated through this study were found to have common themes related to quality of life, occupational performance, self-efficacy, and psychological well-being. Common limitations found among studies include lack of randomization, small sample sizes, and lack of generalizability to different populations. Findings reveal that OT interventions with a focus on client-centered care contribute to improved occupational performance, participation, and quality of life for older adults. This systematic review supports implementing OT interventions for older adults aging in place and in long term care facilities. However, further research is needed to increase generalizability of conclusions and further examine the differences in outcomes between settings.