[Relatives of hospitalized geriatric patients: their needs of information, counseling, and access]

The perception of needs of relatives of patients admitted to geriatric units was investigated by interviewing 70 relatives of patients admitted to the geriatric ward of Verona hospital, over 45 consecutive days. The self compiled questionnaire used for the survey included a list of 22 potential needs referring to three categories: information, counselling and accessibility. Relatives were asked to rate them, on a scale from 1 to 4, according to the perceived priority and level of satisfaction. The relatives rank as most important the information need: the need of receiving information on the illness and its' course; of being contacted and informed on every clinically relevant change in health-illness status and being sure that the patient receives the best possible care. The level of satisfaction for information, counselling and accessibility is low. The perception of needs is influenced by the level of education or the relative.