Enabling and constraining successful reablement: Individual and neighbourhood factors

PLoS One. 2020 Sep 4;15(9):e0237432. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237432. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Using multilevel logistic regression to analyse management data of reablement episodes collected by Essex County Council, a UK local authority, this article identifies constraining and enabling factors for successful reablement. Overall, 59.5% of reablement clients were classed as able to care for themselves when assessed after 13 weeks following the reablement intervention (N = 8,118). Several age-related, disability, referral, and social factors were found to constrain reablement, but some of the largest constraining effects were neighbourhood deprivation as measured through the Index of Multiple Deprivation and, particularly, unfavourable geodemographic profiles as measured through Experian Mosaic consumer classifications. The results suggest that in order to optimise reablement, programmes should consider broader social and environmental influences on reablement rather than only individual and organisational aspects. Reablement might also be better tailored and intensified for client groups with particular underlying disabilities and for those displaying specific geodemographic characteristics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Health Services Needs and Demand*
  • Home Health Nursing / methods
  • Home Health Nursing / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Independent Living / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life
  • United Kingdom

Grants and funding

Funding for initial analyses of the dataset was provided by an internal grant from the University of Essex under its Frontrunner Scheme (https://www1.essex.ac.uk/frontrunners/). The award (FR1213187) was jointly hosted and managed by DT (Department of Sociology). CJJ was selected as the recipient of the student funds of the award. All co-authors were all based at the University of Essex at the beginning of the project. CJJ's ESRC studentship grant (1368980) at the University of Oxford supported training in statistical methods. The funding bodies did not play any role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript. There was no additional external funding received for this study.