Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of rehabilitation of older patients in a
district rehabilitation centre. DESIGN: Prospective observational study.
PATIENTS: A total of 202 patients aged >/= 65 years rehabilitated at a Norwegian
district inpatient rehabilitation centre, referred from district hospital,
nursing homes or their own homes. Diagnoses were: stroke, arthrosis, hip fracture
and other chronic diseases. METHODS: Admission: according to rehabilitation
potential. Treatment: multidisciplinary team including an experienced general
practitioner. Primary outcome measure: Sunnaas Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
Index (SI). Secondary outcome measure: Umea Life Satisfaction Checklist (LSC).
Cognitive (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)), emotional (Symptom Check
List-10) and marital status, residence, length of stay and hours/week private and
home care services were recorded. RESULTS: SI increased significantly during the
mean 3.1 weeks stay (mean 4.2, 95% confidence interval 3.5, 4.8), p<0.001),
persisting after 3 months. Eighty-four percent of patients scored satisfied
according to LSC after rehabilitation. SI at discharge (adjusted for SI at
admission) was predicted by MMSE and type of residence. Seventy-four percent of
the patients needed home care services <3 h/week, at discharge and 3 months
later. CONCLUSION: Significant and persisting improvements in activities of daily
living may be achieved by rehabilitation of older patients with stroke,
arthrosis, hip fracture and other chronic diseases in a district inpatient
rehabilitation centre with co-ordinated and multi-disciplinary rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS