[A five-day ward for the hospitalized elderly. Dynamics, diagnosis and economics]

A geriatric five-day unit of 15 beds was studied continuously for 12 months. There were 330 admissions, mainly referrals from general practitioners via the outpatient clinic. Multiple pathology and loss of function were common. The opinion of colleagues within other specialties was sought on 133 occasions. 39% of the patients received physiotherapy, 27% received occupational therapy and 13% the services of a social worker. Compared with the cost of running a conventional ward of the same size, the financial savings are estimated to be fully NOK 750,000.