Use of rehabilitation apartments for elderly patients

Sixty-three admissions to rehabilitation apartments were studied. In almost half of patients the actual outcome on discharge disagreed with the occupational therapy assessment after using the apartment. Patients who were placed in the apartment to help them gain insight into their disabilities remained unconvinced--the majority returning home despite advice. Although rehabilitation apartments may improve patient morale they should not be used to predict ability to survive at home or to dissuade patients who seem likely to fail from returning there.