[Characteristics of nursing home patients at initial admission: age, sex and morbidity].

INTRODUCTION

Some 35,000 new patients are admitted yearly to 'verpleeghuizen' or Dutch nursing homes. This paper describes some characteristics of these patients.

METHOD

Data were collected using the national Nursing Home Registration System SIVIS of the Dutch centre for health care information. The response rate to the registration by the nursing homes is over 80%.

RESULTS

Newly admitted nursing home patients are characterised by a (very) high age (over 50% of the patients are 80 years and over), a distribution of twice as many women as men and a morbidity pattern of chronic somatic and psychogeriatric, as well as orthopaedic disorders.

CONCLUSION

Among elderly patients the nursing home patients constitute of a heterogeneous purpose of admission and morbidity pattern. Nursing home care focuses on rehabilitation, long-term care and terminal care.