Trichard L, Zabow A, Gillis L S
S Afr Med J. 1982 Apr 24;61(17):624-7.
A survey of 100 consecutive admissions to homes for elderly Whites in Cape Town showed that an interplay of social, physical and psychiatric factors was responsible for most of the referrals, although psychiatric factors contributed to more than 50% of them. The largest proportion (37%) suffered from confusional states, 31% were diagnosed as having a senile organic condition and 25% showed moderate to severe depression. These old people were physically very frail; 53% had incapacitating muscular weakness or stiff and painful joints, 35% had a significant degree of deafness, 25% had a visual defect and 23% were incontinent. The findings indicate that old-age homes deal with a considerable amount of physical and mental ill health, and they are therefore an essential part of health services. The residents of old-age homes were much older than elderly people in the community, as well as being more socially isolated and very disadvantaged in terms of income and family and social support.
对开普敦100名连续入住老年白人疗养院的老人进行的一项调查显示，社会、身体和精神因素的相互作用是大多数转诊病例的原因，尽管精神因素导致了其中超过50%的病例。最大比例（37%）患有意识模糊状态，31%被诊断患有老年器质性疾病，25%表现为中度至重度抑郁。这些老人身体非常虚弱；53%有导致失能的肌肉无力或关节僵硬疼痛，35%有明显的耳聋，25%有视力缺陷，23%大小便失禁。研究结果表明，养老院应对大量身心健康问题，因此它们是卫生服务的重要组成部分。养老院的居民比社区中的老年人年龄大得多，在收入、家庭和社会支持方面也更加社会孤立且处境极为不利。
