Intrinsic Capacities, Functional Ability, Physiological Systems, and Caregiver Support: A Targeted Synthesis of Effective Interventions and International Recommendations for Older Adults

Eleni-Marina Ashikali, Catherine Ludwig, Laura Mastromauro, Samuel Périvier, Aude Tholomier, Irina Ionita, Christophe Graf and Catherine Busnel ()
Additional contact information
Eleni-Marina Ashikali: Geneva Institution for Home Care and Assistance (imad), 1227 Carouge, Switzerland
Catherine Ludwig: Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
Laura Mastromauro: Geneva Institution for Home Care and Assistance (imad), 1227 Carouge, Switzerland
Samuel Périvier: Geneva Institution for Home Care and Assistance (imad), 1227 Carouge, Switzerland
Aude Tholomier: Geneva Institution for Home Care and Assistance (imad), 1227 Carouge, Switzerland
Irina Ionita: PLATEFORME du Réseau Seniors Genève, 1227 Geneva, Switzerland
Christophe Graf: Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospital, 1226 Geneva, Switzerland
Catherine Busnel: Geneva Institution for Home Care and Assistance (imad), 1227 Carouge, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-26

Abstract: The ageing population calls for interventions that can assist older people to age healthily. This study aimed to provide a targeted synthesis of high-level research and current evidence-based recommendations on effective interventions for maintaining or preventing the decline in intrinsic capacity, functional ability, and physiological systems, or for caregiver support. Nestled within the healthy ageing framework by the World Health Organization, available evidence was selected in a targeted manner, with the purpose of providing a synthesis that would allow the application of this knowledge in real life. As such, the outcome variables were examined through an Evidence and Gap Map of interventions for functional ability and through guidelines from leading institutions. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and guidelines on community-dwelling older adults with or without minor health limitations were considered. Thirty-eight documents were included and over fifty interventions identified. Physical activity interventions were consistently effective across several domains. Recommendations point to screening, whilst highlighting the importance of behavioural factors in the endeavour to age healthily. There is a wide range of activities which are likely to foster healthy ageing. To encourage their uptake, it is important for communities to offer suitable promotion and support, and to make these accessible to the public.

Keywords: older adults; intrinsic capacities; functional ability; caregiver support; interventions; recommendations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4382/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4382/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4382-:d:1084261

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().