Changes in Going Out after Lifting a Stay-At-Home Order and Decreases of Higher-Level Functional Capacities

Abstract Aims To clarify associations between changes in going out after lifting a stay-at-home order and decrease in higher-level functional capacities among older adults with impairments. Methods This study was conducted using questionnaires completed by people registered in two day-service facilities and a nursing station. A baseline survey was conducted during Japan’s declaration of emergency for the coronavirus disease 2019, and follow-up surveys were conducted in 4, 8, and 12 months after the declaration was lifted. We performed binary logistic regression analyses to clarify the above associations Results There were significant associations between Δ sum of purposes of going out and the decrease in higher-level functional capacities in 4 months (OR 0.57) and in 8 months (OR 0.47). Conclusions Increasing the sum of purposes of going out after lifting a stay-at-home order was associated with lower odds for a decrease in higher-level functional capacities in 4 and 8 months.