Changes in social participation and life-space mobility in newly enrolled home-based rehabilitation users over 6 months

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine whether we were able to measure changes in social participation and life-space mobility of newly enrolled home-based rehabilitation (HR) users by using the activities and participation components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and Life-Space Assessment (LSA) over a 6-months period. [Participants and Methods] We enrolled 47 HR users who had suffered from a stroke or other condition within the previous year. A 6-month prospective cohort study was conducted. The performance qualifiers “d6 domestic life” and “d9 community, social and civic life” in the activities and participation components of the ICF and LSA were used. [Results] We observed significant improvements in the performance qualifier “d9 community, social and civic life” of the ICF over 3 months, and the LSA over a 6-months period. We also identified significant improvements in “d910 community life” and “d920 recreation and leisure” of the ICF. The LSA results showed that HR users had more frequent mobility within the neighborhood. [Conclusion] This study showed that newly enrolled HR users improved their social activities in the community, recreational activities, and life-space mobility over a 6-months period. These were measured using performance qualifiers from the ICF and LSA.