The bath environment, the bathing task, and the older adult: a review and future directions for bathing disability research.

PURPOSE

To review existing research studies to identify optimal intervention strategies for remediation and prevention of bathing disability and future directions for bathing disability research.

METHOD

Bathing disability, defined as problems in the interaction between the person and the environment during bathing performance, is examined through a comprehensive, narrative literature review.

RESULTS

Most studies focus on the relationship between the person and the environment (such as assistive device use and environmental hazards) while fewer studies focus on analysis of the bathing task or the interaction of the person, environment, and bathing task. Of intervention studies, most do not focus solely on remediation of bathing disability and outcomes vary widely.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to help remediate and prevent bathing disability, it will be necessary to better understand and measure the person-environment-occupation interaction involved in bathing as it relates to specific groups of older adults.