[Adequacy of homemaker services in Gironde according to the PAQUID program]

Allocation of home-help for the elderly is often unsatisfactory, because of the lack of objective assessment of the potential needs. The PAQUID project, a prospective study of 2,792 residents of the Gironde, aged 65 and over, can be used for the determination of the potential need for home-help, and its level of satisfaction in the area. The need is defined by two conditions: living alone and beeing dependent for at least one of 5 Instrumental Activities of Daily Living of the Lawton's scale. The coverage rate is 48.7% and the targetting rate is 45.2%. These rates show a high level of potential needs which are not satisfied especially in rural areas. This approach can be helpful in the planning of home services for the aged.