Functioning of residential care clients remained unchanged during the COVID-19 epidemic

Background We investigated how the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 epidemic affected access to rehabilitation services and acute hospital care, as well as health, functioning, and social inclusion of residential care clients over 75 years old (n = 30,238).

Methods The study was based on the RAI (Resident Assessment Instrument) data from 2018–2021. In 2020, the coverage of RAI assessments was 49% in the study's target population. The proportions of clients who received rehabilitation services and acute hospital care, as well as of those who were interested in social activities were determined. Functioning and health status were described by the activities of daily living scale, cognition, mood, stability of health, and service needs.

Results The proportion of clients who received rehabilitation services or acute hospital care and who were interested in social activities decreased slightly. Functioning and health of the clients remained unaltered.

Conclusions Although during the period of exceptional circumstances the rehabilitation and social inclusion of the residential care clients could not be supported as well as before the COVID-19 epidemic, the level of functioning remained unchanged, and utilization of acute hospital care decreased. Elucidating the long-term effects requires further studies.

Johanna Edgren, Heli Mattila, Matti Mäkelä

Johanna Edgren

Ph.D. (Health Sciences), Senior Researcher

Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Knowledge Management and Co-Creation