[Patterns of independent activities of daily living in the frail and disabled elderly: correlations with health and a socio-ecological context].

The following contribution is focussing on independence in everyday life of 626 frail and disabled elderly people. The impact of medical and social factors on independence as well as different patterns of independence are examined. Results show that--besides medical factors--ecological living conditions (e.g. housing) strongly influence independence. Furthermore, four different patterns of independence with a high heterogenity in objective and subjective aspects of living conditions are analyzed. Finally, conclusions regarding nursing science and nursing practice are discussed.