SELECTED PROBLEMS IN THE REHABILITATION OF PATIENTS IN A NURSING AND CARE INSTITUTION

The aim of the study was to assess selected problems in the rehabilitation of patients staying at a nursing and care institution.

Materials and methods: The study included 33 patients aged 55 to 96 years who were staying at the nursing and care institution in Lipsko. Study patients were examined over a period of 3 months using the standardised Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (I-ADL) scores, the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG).

Results: Standardised ADL testing showed that a considerable proportion of study patients (60%) aged 66-75 years had moderate disability. Standardised Lawton scale testing showed that the most difficult complex activities were home maintenance (96.97%), shopping (90.91%), cooking (87.88%), cleaning (87.88%) and doing laundry (78.79%). The standardised Timed Up and Go Test showed that a large proportion of study patients (71.43%) aged 66-75 years had considerable functional mobility limitations. The AMTS, which assessed the cognitive function, revealed normal results in 36.36% of study patients.

Conclusions: 1. Study patients had significant functional disability. 2. The patients' sex did not influence the ability to perform complex activities of daily living. 3. Sociodemographic determinants did not influence cognitive functioning. 4. Physical therapy and rehabilitation in the elderly should be performed on a regular basis and in the entire society.