Background: Social support provides the older adults with the opportunity to proper
physical function which help preserve their functional abilities. Aim: To examine the
relationship between social support of older adults with IADL and its associated factors as
personal characteristics and presence of comorbidities. Setting and Subjects: The study
conducted in the three geriatric clubs which present in Assiut City and outpatient clinics of chronic
diseases at the Main Assuit University Hospital, subjects of 178 older adults selected from the
previous areas (a convenient sample of 68 older adults from outpatient clinics and 110 from
the three geriatric clubs). Tools: Three tools were utilized for data collection: Tool I: Part
(I): personal data, Part (II): Social support scale, Tool (II): Charlson Comorbidity Index
(CCI) and Tool (III): The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale.
Results: half of the outpatient sample had moderate social support and the other half had
poor social support level, More than one quarter of both groups (29%) had moderate level of
comorbidity, some of geriatric clubs sample (5.5%) were dependent in IADL and that percent
raised to (20.6%) in outpatient clinics sample. Conclusion: Older adults who attended
geriatric clubs that they participate routinely in social contacts and activities had a strong
social support and decreased level of IADL dependency. Increased IADL dependency among
outpatient clinics sample. There was statistical significant correlation regarding social
support of both groups and IADL and with comorbidity level in geriatric clubs group.
Recommendation: Development of policies to address the point of social relations and
activities for older adults from formal, informal and institutional network.
Keywords: Social support, instrumental activities of daily living, comorbidity.