title: Physical rehabilitation of the elderly blind patient.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the policy of admitting elderly blind patients with motor impairments for physical rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  retrospective chart review for comparisons between blind and visually intact patients with similar diagnoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  geriatric rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  all patients with stroke, fractured hip, and lower limb amputation.
  
  
  METHODS
  none.
  
  
  METHODS
  walking ability and functional performance (ADL), using the Barthel Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  overall outcome in blind patients was only slightly less favourable than in the visually intact, although, in comparison with premorbid status, only just over half were ambulatory at discharge and functional independence was less common.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  elderly blind patients with motor impairments should be offered a trial by physical rehabilitation.
authors: Flieman Geriatric Rehabilitation Hospital, Haifa, Israel.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Pillar
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Gaspar
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Dickstein
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001766:Blindness / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies