[Determinants of dying and of nursing home admission in residents of a home for the aged].

Between 1987 and 1991 the full cohort of 155 residents (115 females and 40 males) of a home for the elderly was followed in order to establish yearly outcomes in terms of nursing home placement and mortality. Ages ranged from 68 to 97 with a mean (and SD) of 83.0 (5.5) years. After 4 years 68 residents had died without being admitted to a nursing home (43.9%), 15 were discharged to a skilled care nursing home for psychogeriatric patients (9.7%), and 8 to a skilled care facility for physically handicapped patients (5.2%). Baseline data included: age, gender, living circumstances, length of stay and BOP-behaviour ratings. The BOP is a Dutch rating scale derived from the Stockton Geriatric Rating Scale. It appeared from this study that the prognosis of the number of inmates who were at risk of death of nursing home admission could be made with greater precision if behaviour ratings were taken into account.