With rapid aging of the population in Korea we have seen an increase in the number of older people with disabilities. Among people with disabilities 44 percent are aged 60 years and over, and the disabled elderly comprise 1 I percent of the total older population. Health professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of disability prevention and geriatric rehabilitation.
Models of disability have evolved from the WHO classification to Nagi´ s functional limitation model. Recently the Institute of Medicine has proposed an enabling-disabling process model that emphasizes reversibility of the disabling process and person-environment interaction. Health promotion and disease prevention efforts targeted toward older people contribute to the delay in the onset of disability, and effective rehabilitative therapy helps to improve their functional performance. Modification of the living environment to suit everyday functioning needs, made possible by recent advances in technology, and proper use of supportive devices and encouragement of social and family support are also important for the disabled elderly to maintain an independent life in their community.
To improve the quality of rehabilitation process, and outcomes monitoring and multidisciplinary team approach are essential. By maintaining continuity and integration of various components of rehabilitation process, health care personnel should strive to restore the elderly´ s function to previous level and to return them to their previous living environment. Also, it is important to take into account the concerns and needs of older persons with disabilities and their families, to increase satisfaction with care and quality of life.
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