A Prospective Intervention Study With 6 Months Follow-up of the Effect of Reablement in Home Dwelling Elderly: Patient-reported and Observed Outcomes.

Allocation was not randomised; it depended on the home-care service zone, and no one was blinded. The groups differed at baseline, including more men, more social and gardening activities, more stairs, and higher motivation in the reablement group. The sample was small, with 65 participants, and the usual-care group had a 23% dropout rate compared with 3% in reablement. Three participants in usual care died and one moved during the intervention, while none died in reablement, and the study did not determine why. Reablement was delivered for up to 16 weeks, while usual care was described for 8 weeks, so the amount and type of contact differed. The reablement intervention was a package of exercises, ADL goal practice, person-centred communication, and nurse coordination, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.

Do not conclude that reablement itself caused the gains. Allocation was not randomised, the reablement group had higher baseline motivation, and the intervention was a package of exercises, goal-based ADL practice, supportive communication, and nurse coordination, so the effect of any single component cannot be separated.