Physical Functioning Among Community-Dwelling Elderly in Rural Indonesia

Background As people live longer and the number of elderly individuals increases, caring for the elderly and increasing quality of life become important health care concerns. Objective The aim of this study is to assess physical functioning among elderly people in rural Indonesia and draw conclusions about factors that might impact physical functioning. Methods This study involved 412 elderly individuals aged 60 and over selected by multistage random sampling. A logistic regression was used to determine factors which associated with physical functioning. Results Older age (75+), suffered from chronic illness, and living in low- and middle- income households tend to have limitations on physical function. Also, elderly individuals who had partner and were currently working experienced better physical function than those who did not. Conclusion This study supports other findings that say elderly people should do activities that reduce the risk of developing chronic illnesses. Having regular physical activity and routine preventive health check-ups can improve overall health, protect from having diseases and maintain the physical function of the elderly.