Objectives:

The objective of the study was to determine the evolution of functional ability in patients over 65 years of age during the home care program in the Lleida Health Region and analyze the predictors of mortality.

Methodology:

The sample includes stays in the home care program (processes) of at least six months long over five years. The variables under study were functional ability at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the process, sociodemographic characteristics, chronic diseases, health status, socio-family problems, and mortality.

Results:

A total of 8,189 people were included with a total of 8,433 processes opened between the years 2011 and 2016. Functional ability worsened more in the early stages of the process, remaining more stable in the final phase. In older patients, with senile dementia and the presence of pressure ulcers, dependence increased as the process progressed.

Conclusions:

The results obtained in this study on the relationship of functional ability in the initial assessment and the increased risk of mortality are consistent with studies carried out.

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