Abstract
How the disabled elderly use their time is of critical importance in terms of delaying their confinement to a bedridden state.
The aim of this study was to examine the influence of physical activity and the amout of time devoted to such activity between the elderly disabled subjects in a nursing home and those at home.
The study consists of two groups : 10 disabled subjects at a nursing home (Group I), and 7 disabled subjects living at home (Group II). All subjects were female. The study groups were restricted to a wheelchair or to crawling on buttock or knees. We carried out a time study on all subjects during a 24-hour period, during which all subjects wore a Heart Rate Memory Mac (Vine Co.)
Group I spent an enormous amount of time on sleeping and resting, accounting for 80% of the day, resting four times longer than Group II. With the difference in use of time, we found a difference in the 24-hour heart rate trend and type of activities that raised the heart rate. Group II showed a clear difference in wave between sleeping and awaking on the trend graph. Group I showed an increased heart rate during low physical activity, such as eating, changing bed position or changing diapers. Group II showed on increase while moving on buttock or knees, dressing with sitting, and using a toilet with standing.
We conclude that the activity pattern of Group II is better in maintaining physical activity than that of Group I.
