Aging is a natural process that brings progressive changes in physical, mental, and social functioning. As individuals grow older, the risk of chronic illnesses, functional decline, and disability increases, affecting their independence and overall quality of life. In India, the elderly population is rapidly rising due to improved life expectancy, and a significant proportion of older adults, especially in rural areas, experience mobility issues, sensory impairments, and limitations in performing Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

Disability among the elderly is a major public health concern because it increases dependency, reduces social participation, and places additional burden on families and healthcare systems. In rural communities like Kolar, limited access to health services and lack of awareness further aggravate the challenges faced by elderly individuals. Caregivers, who are often family members, play a crucial role in supporting daily activities, yet many lack adequate knowledge regarding disability management and available welfare services.

Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) strategies are effective in improving caregiver awareness and promoting better home-based care practices. Strengthening caregiver knowledge can help reduce functional decline, prevent complications, and enhance the quality of life of older adults.

This study focuses on assessing the prevalence of disability among elderly people in a selected rural village of Kolar and evaluating the effectiveness of IEC in improving caregivers’ knowledge on disability management.

NEED FOR THE STUDY

The number of elderly people in India is increasing rapidly, and with aging comes a higher risk of chronic illnesses, functional limitations, and disability. Disability among older adults reduces independence, affects mental and social wellbeing, and increases dependence on family members for daily activities. In rural areas such as Kolar, these issues are intensified due to limited healthcare access, lack of rehabilitation services, and low awareness about preventive and supportive care

Caregivers play a central role in assisting elderly individuals, yet many lack adequate knowledge about disability management, safety measures, and available welfare schemes. Without proper guidance, elderly persons may experience worsening disability and reduced quality of life. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) programmes have been proven effective in improving awareness, strengthening caregiving practices, and supporting early identification and management of disability

There is a need to assess the current prevalence of disability among elderly individuals in rural Kolar and to evaluate whether IEC can significantly enhance caregiver knowledge. This evidence is essential for planning community-based interventions, promoting healthy aging, and improving quality of life for the elderly population

A quantitative research approach with a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design was used to evaluate disability among elderly individuals and the effectiveness of IEC for caregivers. The study was conducted in selected rural villages of Kolar district among elderly persons aged 60 years and above and their primary caregivers. A total of 60 elderly and 60 caregivers were selected using convenient sampling.

Data were collected using two validated tools: the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale to assess functional disability, and a structured knowledge questionnaire to measure caregiver knowledge regarding disability, its management, and available welfare services. After obtaining ethical clearance and permission from institutional ethical committee with reference no. SDUCON/IEC/UG-156/2023-2024. The researcher visited households, explained the study, and obtained written informed consent.

The pre-test was conducted first, where the Katz ADL scale was administered to elderly participants, followed by caregiver knowledge assessment. An IEC session was then delivered through charts & live demonstrations focusing management of disability. The post-test was administered seven days later using the same questionnaire to evaluate knowledge improvement.

Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, SD) and inferential statistics. A paired t-test measured the effectiveness of the IEC intervention by comparing pre- and post-test knowledge scores, while chi-square analysis identified associations between post-test scores and selected socio-demographic variables. A significance level of p < 0.05 was used

The study assessed disability among elderly individuals using the Katz ADL scale and evaluated the effectiveness of an IEC intervention on caregiver knowledge. The results are presented below.

Socio-demographic Variables of disability among the elderly people

The study included 60 elderly participants aged between 60 and 80 years, with most belonging to the 70–80-year age group. A majority of the participants were from above-poverty-level households, and most lived in nuclear families. More than half of the families had only one earning member, and a large proportion of the elderly were receiving old-age pensions. Very few were retired government employees. All participants consumed a mixed diet.

Regarding caregivers, most were educated up to SSLC or higher, while a smaller portion had only primary or higher primary education, and none were illiterate. The majority of caregivers were housewives, with a few engaged in self-employment, daily wage work, or government jobs.

1. Estimation of prevalence of disability among the elderly people by using Katz

ADL standardized tool.

Table 1: Distribution of Disability Levels among Elderly using KATZ standardized tool. (N=60)

Table 1 shows the distribution of difficulties in activities of daily living according to the Katz ADL scale were noted higher in continence (22.2%) and transferring (22.2%) followed by toileting (18.9%) and bathing (9.6%). This indicates that mobility – related functions (continence and transferring) were the most affected areas compared to basic self –care activities like feeding and bathing.

Table 2: Distribution of Disability Levels Among Elderly (N=60)

To assess the knowledge among elderly caregivers by using structured knowledge questionnaire.

Table 3: Mean knowledge scores among elderly caregivers by using structured knowledge questionnaire.

The table shows that in the pretest, caregivers had low knowledge across all aspects. The mean percentage of knowledge was highest in general questions on care giving (27.14 %) and lowest in knowledge on welfare services (13.6%). The overall mean percentage (21.4%). That the care givers possessed inadequate knowledge before the intervention

2. To evaluate the effectiveness of IEC by comparing pre and post test scores of caregivers by using structured knowledge questionnaire.

Table 4: Post mean knowledge scores based on aspect wise among caregivers

The table shows that in the post-test caregivers demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge across all aspects. The highest mean percentage of the knowledge was observed in general questions on care giving (70.21%), followed by knowledge on disability management (61.3%). The overall mean percentage of (65.93%) indicates that the care givers had gained adequate knowledge after intervention program.

Effectiveness of IEC by comparing pre and post test scores of caregivers by using structured knowledge questionnaire.

Table 5: Effectiveness of IEC by comparing pre and post test scores of caregivers

The results show that the IEC programme was highly effective in improving caregivers’ knowledge. Their understanding of general caregiving increased significantly, with scores rising from 3.80 to 9.83. Knowledge related to disability management improved from 1.89 to 6.13, and awareness of welfare services increased from 0.82 to 3.78. Overall, the total knowledge score increased markedly from 6.42 before the intervention to 19.78 after the IEC programme, confirming a strong positive impact.

3.      To determine the association between post test score with selected socio-demographic variable of caregivers.

Table 6: The association between post test score with selected socio- demographic variable of caregivers

Table 6:-The results show a significant association between knowledge scores and three variables: number of earning members (χ²=5.454, p=0.019), educational status of caregivers (χ²=7.5, p=0.006), and occupation of caregivers (χ²=1.316, p=0.002). All three were statistically significant at p < 0.05. The remaining demographic variables showed no significant association with knowledge scores (p > 0.05).

The present study assessed the prevalence of disability among elderly persons and the effectiveness of IEC in improving caregiver knowledge. The findings revealed that difficulties were highest in continence and transferring (22.2%), followed by toileting and bathing, indicating that mobility-related ADLs were more affected than basic self-care tasks. Similar patterns were reported in studies by Medhi et al. (2021) and Marmamula et al. (2021), which highlighted that elderly individuals in rural India commonly experience limitations in mobility and toileting functions due to chronic illnesses and age-related decline.

The pre-test results showed that caregivers had inadequate baseline knowledge across all aspects, which is consistent with Khan et al. (2018) and Joshi et al. (2003), who found that poor caregiver awareness contributes to delayed disability management among the elderly. After administering IEC, there was a significant improvement in knowledge, with post-test scores rising to 65.93%, supported by high t-values across all domains.

This finding aligns with Agrawal et al. (2016) and Medhi et al. (2021), who reported that structured health education significantly enhances caregiver competence and promotes better disability management outcomes. The study also identified significant associations between post-test knowledge and variables such as educational status, occupation, and number of earning members, which is supported by Ramadass et al. (2018) and Kondeth et al. (2024), who emphasized the influence of socioeconomic and educational factors on caregiver awareness and elderly care practices.

Overall, the present study confirms that disability prevalence among the elderly is substantial, caregiver knowledge is initially inadequate, and IEC serves as an effective intervention to enhance understanding and improve disability management in rural communities.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY

General Implications of the Study

1. The study highlights the need for regular educational interventions to improve caregivers’ knowledge on disability management among the elderly.
2. Effective IEC programmes can significantly enhance caregivers’ ability to provide safe and supportive daily care.
3. Improved caregiver knowledge can contribute to reducing disability-related complications and promoting better functional independence in elderly individuals.
4. Community health initiatives should integrate structured IEC sessions as a routine part of geriatric care.
5. The findings emphasize the importance of empowering families to actively participate in the care of elderly persons with disabilities.
6. The results support the development of community-based programmes focused on early identification and prevention of disability among older adults.
7. Policymakers and health professionals can use these findings to design geriatric-friendly awareness and training modules for rural populations.

1. Small sample size limits generalization.
2. Only one-group design used; no control group.
3. Short follow-up period.

1. Larger studies with robust designs.
2. Long-term evaluation of IEC impact.
3. Incorporation of digital IEC tools.
4. Community health workers to deliver regular caregiver training.

Disability among elderly in rural Kolar is prevalent and needs immediate attention. IEC interventions significantly improve caregiver knowledge and should be integrated into community-based health programs. Strengthening caregiver education can enhance elderly care and reduce long-term disability burden. Caregivers demonstrated inadequate baseline knowledge regarding disability management, but IEC intervention significantly improved their overall knowledge, as evidenced by a marked increase in post-test scores

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