Does reablement improve client-level outcomes of participants? An investigation of the current evidence

This chapter looks at the evidence regarding the effectiveness of reablement for older people themselves. The most commonly examined client-level outcomes are daily functioning, physical function and quality of life. The evidence relating to each of these is described in separate sections, while that pertaining to less commonly used measures is described together. When assessing the evidence, most weight is given to studies with more rigorous research methodologies which are considered to be higher on the evidence hierarchy. Overall, the evidence that reablement enables older adults to have better personal outcomes than if they had received conventional home care, was found to be relatively weak, although in relation to outcomes such as quality of life or wellbeing, perhaps promising. On the other hand, there is little evidence that the outcomes for reablement participants are any worse than for non-participants and service evaluations found that the majority were satisfied with the service and what they felt they had achieved.