[Patients' and relatives' satisfaction with the care in geriatric wards]

The geriatric wards in Israel are well equipped and staffed in order to treat elderly patients who need rehabilitation or special nursing and special medical supervision for active diseases. Health institutions and hospitals in Israel and in the modern world strive to satisfy both patients and relatives. Patients', relatives' and caregivers' satisfaction are important quality measurements of the medical and nursing treatment as well as the level of service provided. Patients' surveys of satisfaction with health care are increasingly accepted as an element of quality assessment and even as a management tool for changing and improving nursing and medical care, quality of service, physical and environmental conditions and hygiene of health institutions. Satisfaction surveys should be performed anonymously at least once a year. The quality of service evaluation and publication is in itself a stimulation to motivate the continuous improvement of the medical and non-medical staff.