Effects of relocation on the elderly.

Although relocation is often indicated as a necessary therapeutic intervention, the stress of relocation on elderly persons can prove detrimental to their life satisfaction and longevity. If a move is involuntary or involves extreme change--for example, a move from a private home to an institution--the loss of environment control and predictability can pose a threat to the person's well-being. Yet there are cases in which the outcome is good--for example, a voluntary move from one private home to another. The physician can use a patient's individual characteristics to help predict the probable outcome of relocation.