[Referral of elderly patients with cerebral apoplexy to nursing homes]

A retrospective investigation was undertaken to investigate which factors are of significance in recommendation of patients with cerebral apoplexy in geriatric departments to nursing homes. The investigation includes 116 patients admitted during a period of two years. Thirty-five (30%) were recommended for nursing homes. Sixty-seven (58%) remained severely handicapped (corresponding to Rankin's groups IV and V). Logistic regression analysis revealed that marital status, dementia, lack of motivation and inability to walk were associated with recommendation for nursing homes whereas sex, degree of paresis, aphasia, focal cognitive disturbances, incontinence of urine and hemianopsia did not show any association. Sex was, similarly, of no significance for the functional result of rehabilitation. On the basis of the regression analysis, the probability of recommendation to a nursing home may be calculated with knowledge of the predisposing factors in any given patient.