[Some considerations on the rehabilitation of the elderly (author's transl)]

This paper presents the conditions, possibilities and success rates in the rehabilitation of the elderly. Comparisons are made between two large groups of elderly people with chronic diseases. It is shown that 34% of the chronically ill, so-called "nursing home cases", could be rehabilitated after an average stay of 510 days in a rehabilitation centre. Old age is no hindrance to perseverance in medical rehabilitation. The methodical approaches in medical rehabilitation of the aged are described. Finally, suggestions are made as to how physicians in hospitals could be convinced of the promising prospects of rehabilitating elderly, chronically ill people.