Characteristics of patients during their stay in a nursing home and at discharge

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of patients during stay in nursing homes, and at the moment of discharge or death. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHOD: Data were collected concerning September 30th 1991 using the National Nursing Home Registration System SIVIS, in which over 80% of the nursing homes participate. There were 45,471 patients (23,395 somatic and 22,076 psychogeriatric patients). RESULTS: Frequent morbidity consisted of stroke, neurological disorders, locomotor disorders and dementia. There was a high degree of disability regarding the activities of daily life and mobility. The average length of stay for somatic patients was just over one year, that for psychogeriatric patients almost two and a half years. After rehabilitation, one-third of the patients could be discharged to their homes or to a home for the aged. (Most of the remaining patients eventually died in the nursing home.) CONCLUSION: Residing nursing home patients are mainly characterised by chronic disorders. Consequently, disabilities and handicaps occur in many areas, such as self-care, mobility and psychological functioning. For a number of patients the distinction between somatic or psychogeriatric nursing becomes irrelevant. For all categories of patients the utilisation of care resources is increasing.