Effect of a Neighborhood-Based Rehabilitation Program on Physical and Mental Health of the Elderly People

Ashori, Mohammad; Danadel, Mehrshid; Poorshabanan, Pejman

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Volume 4, Issue 2 (Summer 2026)

Iran J Health Res Dev 2026, 4(2): 80-92

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Effect of a Neighborhood-Based Rehabilitation Program on Physical and Mental Health of the Elderly People

Mohammad Ashori ^*¹

, Mehrshid Danadel²

, Pejman Poorshabanan³

1- University of Isfahan & Department of Psychology and Education of People with Special Needs, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran , m.ashori@edu.ui.ac.ir
2- University of Isfahan & Ph.D. Candidate of Psychology and Education of People with Special Needs, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
3- Deputy of Rehabilitation Isfahan Welfare Organization & Nephrology Subspecialty Board, Head of Deputy of Rehabilitation Isfahan Welfare Organization, Iran

Abstract: (365 Views)

Background: Neighborhood-based rehabilitation programs can to help improving psychological well-being and quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of neighborhood-based rehabilitation programs on the physical and mental health of older adults.

Methods: The study was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test, and control group design. The statistical population included all elderly people in Isfahan. The sample consisted of 45 people who were selected by convenience sampling from Kolbeh Noor and Ranginkaman Sepid elderly training and rehabilitation centers and randomly assigned to an experimental group of 22 and a control group of 23. The experimental group participated in eight 60-minute sessions of the program, while the control group did not participate in the program. A health background questionnaire was used to assess both groups.

Results: The mean age of older adults was 72.81 ± 5.78 years in the intervention group and 73.39 ± 6.11 years in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.98). The results showed that the mean scores of physical health, mental health, and total health increased in the intervention group at post‑test compared with pre‑test, while no considerable change was observed in the control group. The results of univariate analysis of covariance indicated that the community‑based rehabilitation program had a significant effect on the total health score of older adults (F = 497.41, P < 0.001, η² = 0.92). Furthermore, multivariate analysis of covariance showed that the intervention had a significant positive effect on physical health (F = 217.69, P < 0.001, η² = 0.84) and mental health (F = 175.35, P < 0.001, η² = 0.81) among older adults.

Conclusion:The implementation of a community‑based rehabilitation training program significantly improves the overall health of older adults, including both physical and mental health. Therefore, the use of community‑based rehabilitation programs in elderly service centers and community health programs can play an important role in improving the physical and mental health status of this age group.

Keywords: Elderly people, Health, Neighborhood-based rehabilitation

Full-Text [PDF 844 kb] (33 Downloads)

Type of Study: Original | Subject: Special
Received: 2026/02/17 | Accepted: 2026/05/31 | Published: 2026/07/1

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Ashori M, Danadel M, Poorshabanan P. Effect of a Neighborhood-Based Rehabilitation Program on Physical and Mental Health of the Elderly People. Iran J Health Res Dev 2026; 4 (2) :80-92
URL: http://jhrd.trjums.ac.ir/article-1-175-en.html

Open Access Statement: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided that the original work is properly cited.

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