Quality of Life: Rehabilitation

Week 1

QUALITY OF LIFE

  • Maintaining or enhancing the quality of life of individuals is the overriding principle in the rehabilitation process.

  • Quality of life is a cornerstone of health promotion—empowering individuals to improve their health.

  • Definition by WHO: Quality of Life is an individual's perception of their position in life within the context of cultural and value systems, related to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.

Principles of Quality of Life

  • Quality of life is a multidimensional construct.

  • Every individual is biopsychosocial in nature, constantly interacting with their environment.

  • Quality of life components are similar for individuals with and without disabilities.

  • Disability alone does not directly lead to decreased quality of life.

Quality of Life and Rehabilitation

  • Rehabilitation focuses on restoring, maintaining, and increasing function in individuals with disabilities.

  • Increasing function to improve quality of life is a fundamental goal.

REHABILITATION

  • Multidisciplinary field addressing physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning.

  • Major areas of life affected include:

    • Mobility

    • Communication

    • Activities of daily living

    • Vocational activities

    • Social relationships

    • Leisure and recreation

  • Rehabilitation spans across an individual’s lifespan.

International Classification of Function (ICF)

  • Health condition (disorder or disease)

  • Classification of functioning, disability, and health.

  • Components of ICF:

    • Body Functions and Activities

    • Participation

    • Environmental Factors

    • Personal Factors

Rehabilitation

  • Rehabilitation is defined as "a set of measures that assist individuals who experience, or are likely to experience, disability in achieving and maintaining optimal functioning in interaction with their environments.”

FOUR ELEMENTS OF REHABILITATION

  1. Preventative: Preventing the onset of disabilities by promoting health and wellness initiatives, educating individuals about risk factors, and encouraging early intervention strategies.

  2. Restorative: Aimed at restoring lost skills or abilities due to injury or illness.

  3. Supportive: Providing assistance and resources to help individuals adapt and thrive in their daily lives.

  4. Palliative: Focusing on improving quality of life by managing symptoms and providing comfort.

GOALS OF REHABILITATION

  • Prevention of loss of function

  • Slowing the rate of loss of function

  • Improvement or restoration of function

  • Compensation for loss of function (compensatory strategies)

  • Maintenance of current function