Empowering Older Adults Physical Independence via Ergonomic Education and Integrated Physical Therapy Services in Pakem, Sleman

Abstract

The aging process leads to a decline in musculoskeletal function, resulting in an increased risk of mobility impairment, pain, and reduced independence among older adults in performing daily living activities. This condition necessitates health promotion and preventive initiatives through community-based education and healthcare services. This community engagement activity aimed to enhance older adults' access to ergonomic education, health consultations, and integrated physical therapy services to support physical independence. The activity was conducted in May 2026 at TLC Bethesda, Pakem, Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta, involving 200 older adults aged 60–74 years. The program comprised ergonomic workshops and demonstrations, health consultations, and tailored physical therapy services based on participants' needs. Program evaluation was performed using a satisfaction questionnaire completed by 172 participants and analyzed descriptively. Initial screening revealed that the most frequently reported complaint was knee pain (41.0%), followed by back pain (23.0%), concurrent knee and back pain (12.0%), and shoulder/neck pain (10.5%). The evaluation demonstrated an overall satisfaction score of 3.54 ± 0.38 (88.50%), falling into the "highly satisfied" category. The integrated ergonomic education and physical therapy program was successfully executed according to plan and achieved high acceptance among participants. Similar community-based initiatives are recommended to be implemented sustainably, supported by enhancements in service infrastructure and objective outcome measures to evaluate long-term impacts on older adults' knowledge and functional capacity.