Effectiveness of a community-based integrated service model for older adults living alone: A nonrandomized prospective study

Abstract

Objective: Older adults living alone face physical, emotional, and social health problems, and prefer to age in place (AIP) in their homes. A community-based integrated model for AIP is needed and few studies have identified its impact on older adults living alone. Methods: This was a non-randomized prospective study. Participants were 877 community-dwelling older adults living alone, aged above 65 years, in S* city in South Korea. The intervention group (n = 331) received a community-based integrated service (CBIS) model based on AIP for six months from October 2019 to April 2020. Results: Scores on frailty (beta =-0.377, p < .001), loneliness (beta =-1.897, p = .018), and health-related quality of life (beta = 4.299, p = .021) significantly improved in the intervention group. Among the intervention group, loneliness scores significantly improved among participants aged under 80 years than those aged over 80 years. Conclusion: The CBIS model improved frailty, loneliness, and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults living alone. (c) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.