[Discharge from the geriatric clinic: factors predicting independent living at home]

This article presents the predictors for living at home 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months after hospitalization in a geriatric clinic. The multivariate regression analysis revealed the predictive factors for living at home after 3 months: Incontinence, functional status judged by the physician, and balance performance. For living at home at 6 months, balance performance, handgrip were predictive, and at 12 months, balance performance, physicians judgement of functional abilities and Barthel-Index had the most predictive value. The only factor that was recognized to be predictive for living at home at 24 months was the physician's judgement of the functional abilities of the patient. It is concluded that the functional status measured by observation but preferably by performance is of predictive value for living at home from 6 months to 12 months after acute hospitalization.