Table 3: Lawton & Brody dimensions according to the “male/female” variable.

Evaluated Activities Description
Using the Phone • Use the telephone on own initiative: there are no differences between men and women.
• Can dial well some family numbers: women present in the status “before” a 7.1% compared to a proportion of 8.7% of men who had this status as initial level.
• Can answer the phone, but cannot dial: there are no significant differences in the proportion associated with the male/female variable.
• Are not able to use the phone: only 4.3% of men are found. There are no women in this status.
Shopping • Independently perform all necessary purchases: there are no significant differences in the status in relation to the male/female variable. In both cases, it approximates a 43.2% in the evolution of independence when making the necessary purchases, being a great proportion of gained independence.
• Independently perform small purchases: there is a higher concentration of initial status for men with 39.1% compared to women with 28.6%.
• Need to be accompanied to make any purchase: in the status “before” women have a greater presence on this level with 35.7%, compared to 21.7% of men.
• Totally unable to shop no people at this level within the test.
Preparing Food • Organize, prepare and serve the meals on their own adequately: men present evolution of 21.7% compared to 7.1% of women.
• Properly prepare meals if ingredients are provided: women do not present changes compared to 8.7% improvement for men.
• Prepare, warm and serve meals, but does not follow a proper diet: 4.3% of men show an evolution in this area compared to 7.1% of women.
• Need to have meals prepared and served: a large proportion of men (30.4%) contrast in their initial status in this variable “before” compared to 7.1% of women. Therefore, men in the test are much less independent for this component.
Doing Housekeeping • Do housekeeping by themselves or with occasional help for heavy work: 57.1% of women do not present changes compared to 34.8% of men who do have changes at this level, being this one of the variables generating the lowest impact with tele-assistance for the case of men.
• Perform light tasks, such as washing dishes and making beds: men had better results in relation to evolution with 13%. Women did not evolve at this level.
• Perform slight tasks, but cannot maintain an adequate level of cleanliness: women did not have a presence in this level, while men evolved to this status in 21.7%, again showing greater initial capacities among women for independence for the case of this dimension.
• Need help in all housework: 21.7% of men registered this level as their initial state. No woman had this state in the housekeeping dimension.
• Do not participate in any housekeeping activity: there is no data for this level in the variable.
Doing the Laundry • Wash all their clothes on their own: 71% of women were in this status and did not change, compared to 34.8% of men. Regarding the evolution of this variable status, 7.1% of the women obtained results compared to 4.3% of the men.
• Wash small garments on their own: most women with 21.4% and men with 39.1% do not present changes in this condition of the component.
• All laundry should be done by another person: no woman has any status in this variable. 13.0% of the men started in this status and 13.0% of them did not change status during the study.
Using Public Transportation • Travel alone on public transport or drive their own car: women had a greater evolution in their status facing this variable with 21.4%, compared to 13% of men.
• Can take a taxi, but does not use another means of transport: in this level of the component, women evolved their status in 7.1% against the 8.7% of men. All participants experienced changes for this level.
• Travel by public transport when accompanied by another person: there is no change in this variable, 57.1% of the women do not show any change while 73.9% of the men register a change.
• Only use a taxi or car with the help of others: 7.1% of women started in this status of the transport and mobility component, while there are no men in this status.
• Do not travel: no data exist at this level, neither for men nor for women.
Handling Medicines • Can take their medication on time and with the correct dose: in 71.4% of the women, there is no evolution; 43.5% of men do not present change in this status.
• Take their medication if the dose is previously prepared: men have a higher proportion of initial status with 56.5% compared to women with 21.4%.
• Not able to administer their medication: There are no values for this condition.
Handling Money • Handle their economic affairs by themselves: 92.9% of women and 95.7% of men present changes in independence for this money management component. This is the variable with the greatest changes for participants throughout the study.
• Perform day-to-day purchases, but need help in large purchases, banks, among others: 28.6% of women and 17.4% of men are in their initial status in this variable of the independence component In the handling of money
• Unable to handle money: In 64.3%, women are characterized in an initial status in this variable, while men are in 78.3%.