This study explores the effectiveness of reablement interventions for older adults with declining mobility in adult day care centers and compares them with traditional exercise interventions. In recent years, reablement has gained increasing attention. It is a person-centered approach that emphasizes goal-oriented training through activities of daily living, combined with interdisciplinary collaboration, to enhance individuals' self-care abilities and participation in daily life. In contrast, exercise interventions are typically structured programs focusing on improving muscle strength, balance, and endurance. While both approaches aim to enhance physical function, they differ in philosophy, implementation context, and motivational mechanisms. Reablement emphasizes meaningful, individualized, and context-based activities, which may enhance motivation and adherence, whereas exercise interventions are more standardized and efficient but may lack relevance to daily life, potentially affecting long-term engagement.
This study adopts a quasi-experimental design to compare the effects of reablement and exercise interventions on mobility, fear of falling, activities of daily living, and subjective well-being among older adults. It also evaluates the feasibility of implementing reablement in day care centers. Additionally, participants' preferences, attendance, and engagement in different intervention approaches are examined to address the current gap in comparative research.
Overall, the findings suggest that incorporating reablement into day care services-through individualized goal setting and interdisciplinary collaboration-can enhance functional performance, quality of life, and independence among older adults. The results also provide important evidence for future long-term care policy and practice, supporting a shift from a care-oriented model to a function-oriented approach, and ultimately promoting aging in place and independent living.