[Priorities in community nursing services to the elderly--do we assist those who need it most? A study from the Northern district of Bodø].

We wanted increased insight into what factors are important for old people's ability to take care of themselves without assistance from the community nursing service. We compared a group of clients and a matched control group, each counting 40 persons. A structured interview was conducted during one home visit to each person. The questions dealt with health conditions, social factors and physical surroundings. The control group showed less functional disability, used fewer drugs and considered their own health to be better than the client group did. The control group said they had visitors more often. Both groups had a shortage of technical remedies for improving everyday functions. Untreated depression was diagnosed in both groups. The study shows that failing health, particularly in relation to functional disability, is the main factor for selection for community nursing service in the area of study.