The Nursing Model of Adult Day Care for Filipino Older Persons

Purpose:

This study aimed to develop a model of a nurse-managed adult day care program for Filipino older persons to guide nurses in creating meaningful, focused, and structured activities for them. Participants include Filipino older persons regularly attending at the Manila Department of Social Welfare District V Drop-In Center for Senior Citizens.

Methods:

A mixed methods research design was used. Health needs were determined by profiling, assessment of quality of life with the use of the World Health Organization (WHO)-Quality of Life (QOL) tool in ambulatory community-dwelling Filipino older persons, and followed by a focus group discussion with the older persons in the study. The results were developed into a training module that trained six registered nurses for a pilot program implementation. Evaluation of this pilot implementation was executed through interview with the nurses, focus group discussion with older persons, and the reassessment of their quality of life.

Results:

The model for a nurse-managed adult day care program for Filipino older persons was placed in a schematic diagram. The diagram developed represented the expressed relationship between the nurse, older persons, and a meaning-based adult day care program. In managing an adult day care program, the nurse’s task was to perform different roles. The nursing model developed in this study show the nurse, meaning-based adult day care program, and the Filipino older person as evolving within a caring context that explores, respects, and nurtures their interconnectedness.

The results bring forth the reality that Filipino older persons benefit from a structured nurse-managed program activity in adult day care. The findings of the study have created a module, conducted the training of nurses, facilitated a pilot program implementation, and developed a nursing model for use in adult day care.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the study gave evidences to the ability of nurses to manage an adult day care program for older persons. The study recommends the use of meaning-based nursing care and the nursing model developed to prescribe guidelines in the conduct of adult day care programs and services.