[Favorable development of ability to function in patients during admission in a geriatric unit of a psychiatric hospital].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the course of the functional ability in daily living activities, mobility and faecal and urinary continence, and the interrelationship of these features of ability in patients admitted to the geriatric unit of a psychiatric hospital (GAPZ).


METHODS
Retrospective.


METHODS
Geriatric unit, Vincent van Gogh Institute of Psychiatry, Venray, the Netherlands.


METHODS
Analysis of data obtained from the National Register of Clinical Gerontology from SIG Care Information in Utrecht. For all patients discharged in 1992 the level of functional ability on admission and discharge was determined and compared, using 9 variables.


RESULTS
During the stay all but one of the functional status variables improved significantly: washing of upper and lower body, dressing, going to the toilet, eating, urinary (in)continence and mobility (as measured by radius of action and assistance needed). Faecal incontinence did not improve. On average women functioned more independently than men; however, the improvement in functional status was equal for both sexes. There was a hierarchical decline in the event of decreased functional ability. This hierarchical relationship was more prominent at the time of discharge than at the time of admission.


CONCLUSIONS
On average the functional status of the patients evaluated improved during their stay in the geriatric unit of the psychiatric hospital. There appears to be a hierarchy of changes in aspects of functional condition irrespective of the underlying diseases in elderly people.
Algemeen Psychiatrisch Ziekenhuis, Vincent van Gogh Instituut, Venray.
H A
HA
Maas
J
J
Hoogmoed
G A
GA
Golüke-Willemse
Y W
YW
van den Berg
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis
Gunstige ontwikkeling van de zelfredzaamheid van patiënten tijdens opname op een geriatrische afdeling van een psychiatrisch ziekenhuis.