Abstract
Activities of daily living (ADLs) is an important measure of the quality of care provided in home healthcare (HHC), but few studies describe the ADLs of HHC patients. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the types and levels of ADL dependency among patients receiving home care, (2) identify the risk factors for severe ADL dependency at admission, and (3) identify the predictors of ADL improvement during a HHC stay. This was a secondary data analysis of a 5% random sample (n=105,654) of the national Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS-C) for the year 2013. The dependent variables were severe ADL dependency level at admission and ADL improvement from admission to discharge. About two-thirds (65%) of the patients (n = 99,991) had severe ADL dependency (dependence in 7 or more ADLs) at admission. Older age, female gender, and impaired decision-making were associated with severe ADL dependency on admission. Of the 105,654 patients, 58.1% (n = 89,997) experienced ADL improvement. ADL improvement was associated with increasing home health care length of stay, being female, and prior inpatient stay. Clinicians, policy makers and agencies could focus on modifiable characteristics to achieve the goal of ADL improvement.