[Nursing homes: a source of increasing concern. Behavior assessment by the nursing staff]

In recent times the need for physical care of residents of Dutch old people's homes has clearly increased. This is strongly related to the ageing of the population of these homes as well as to the introduction of legal measures concerning the admission of new residents. Staff members have also noted an increase in the mental and social problems of residents. In this article we describe a rating scale devised for the assessment of psychosocial problems in a home for the aged. The staff completed this scale and an ADL scale four times at three-month intervals. The prevailing problems appear to be loneliness, isolation and depression. Longitudinal analysis indicates that the number of residents with physical and psychosocial problems is increasing. The relationship between these two domains however is relatively weak. This development requires a new orientation of management and staff and adaptation of education and training of personnel.