[Changes in functional status of patients at initial admission to a psychogeriatric nursing home and at...

During a period of 15 years (1973-1987) the dependency of 902 patients on first admission to a psychogeriatric nursing home has been registered by means of the Beoordelingsschaal voor Oudere Patiënten (BOP, i.e. Behavioural Rating Scale for Elderly Patients). Besides, age, sex, marital status and place of residence before admission were registered. During the research period the proportion of severely disabled patients decreased systematically. The proportion of patients directly admitted from their homes increased. Furthermore, we found an increase of the proportion of married patients. These results are compatible with a greater accessibility of the nursing home, since the availability of nursing home beds in the region has grown significantly. Though the proportion of patients who were severely disabled on first admission, decreased, the experienced burden of care for in-patients has strongly increased. Since 1973 not only the dependency of in-patients increased, but also the need for a higher quality of care. We assume that the burden of care giving has increased due to these factors, but not to changed characteristics of patients on first admission.